Effect of Kinesio Taping on the Walking Ability of Patients with Foot Drop after Stroke.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of kinesio taping on the walking ability in patients with foot drop after stroke.

METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly divided into the experimental group (with kinesio taping) and the control group (without kinesio taping). The 10-Meter Walking Test (10MWT), Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), stride length, stance phase, swing phase, and foot rotation of the involved side were measured with the German ZEBRIS gait running platform analysis system and were used to evaluate and compare the immediate effects of kinesio taping. All the measurements were made in duplicate for each patient.

RESULTS: The demographic variables of patients in both groups were comparable before the treatment (p>0.05). After kinesio taping treatment, significant improvement was found in the 10MWT and the TUGT for patients in the experimental group (p<0.05). There were significant differences in the 10MWT and TUGT between the experimental and control groups after treatment (p<0.05). In terms of gait, we found significant improvement in stride length (p<0.001), stance phase (p<0.001), swing phase (p<0.001), and foot rotation (p<0.001) of the involved side in experimental group after treatment compared with those before treatment. Further, the functional outcomes and gait ability were significantly improved in the experimental group after treatment (p<0.05), compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION: Kinesio taping can immediately improve the walking function of patients with foot drop after stroke.