Background: Attaining head control is frequently used as the starting point in therapeutic intervention for the children with cerebral palsy. Application of kinesiotape along with other approaches for treatment of cerebral palsy helps in improving early head control .The purpose of the study is to find out the effect of applying kinesiotape over sternomastoid and trapezius muscles to improve head lifting, head turning and head holding capacity of children with cerebral palsy.
Objective of study: The study was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of combined approach of Neuro-developmental therapy and kinesotaping on improving head control of children with Cerebral palsy.
Method: The study was conducted in Occupational therapy unit of Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Banaras Hindu University Varanasi. Written ethical permission was obtained from the Institute of Medical Science Banaras Hindu University Varanasi .The parents of the selected children were explained about the study and a written informed consent was obtained from them. Baseline scores were obtained by using GMFM, CSHC, VAS and GAS. Children with cerebral palsy who were fulfilling inclusion criteria were divided into 2 groups conveniently, 100 experimental group and 100 control group. Children in experimental group were provided activities providing neurodevelopment therapy along with kinesiotaping over the muscles belly of sternocelidomastoid and trapezius. In control group children were provided with activities providing neurodevelopment therapy. Therapy for both the groups was provided for 5 weeks regularly in occupational therapy unit. On every 5th day from the application of, kinesiotape is changed as it gets loose and elasticity is compromised due to stretch on kinesiotape while performing therapeutic activities and activities of daily living.
Results: Results of Wilcoxan signed rank test of GMFM are significant for experimental group and control group with P = 0.004 & P = 0.041 and Z = -2.36 & Z = -2.08 respectively with level of significance set at P ≤ 0.05. There is significance of results of Wilcoxan signed rank test of CSHC in experimental and control group. The P and Z value for experimental group is P = 0.005 & Z = -2.36 and for control group is P = 0.005 & Z = -2.08 with level of confidence set at P ≤ 0.05, which shows that results were significant for experimental group as well as control group. Also the results of Mann Whitney U test show that Z = -3.507 making it more sensitive to capture changes in balances in children than GMFM with Z = -3.905 with P = 0.002 & P = 0.001 with level of significance set at P ≤ 0.05.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that application of kinesiotape along with neurodevelopment therapy can be used to enhance & improve head control among children with Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, so that they can explore the environment effectively for playing.
kinesiotape, neurodevelopmental therapy, muscle belly, proprioception, therapeutic activities
