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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06723873

Effects of Kinesiology Taping in Stroke Patients

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if kinesiology taping works to treat stroke patients. The main question it aims to answer is:

Is kinesiology taping effective in stroke patients? Researchers compare kinesiology taping to a placebo (visually similar but has no effects) to see if kinesiology taping works immediately to treat stroke patients.

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Key information

Conditions

Stroke Brain Diseases Cardiovascular Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Cerebrovascular Disorders Nervous System Diseases Upper Extremity Dysfunction Vascular Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Beykent University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effects of kinesiology taping (KT) on trunk control, posture, proprioception, and upper limb function in stroke patients, specifically focusing on the trunk-scapula-shoulder complex. A total of thirty-seven stroke patients participated in this placebo-controlled trial, where they were randomly assigned to either the KT group (n=19) or a placebo-controlled sham KT group (n=18). The KT group received kinesiology taping applied using facilitation and inhibition techniques, while the control group received sham taping without therapeutic tension.

The application of kinesiology taping to the trunk-scapula-shoulder complex in stroke patients resulted in immediate enhancements in trunk control, shoulder posture, and proprioception. However, it did not significantly improve upper limb function in the short term.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Experienced a first-ever stroke
  • Demonstrated a motor recovery level of Brunnstrom stages 3 or 4 in the affected upper limb
  • No history of botulinum toxin-A therapy within the past three months
  • Possess sufficient cognitive ability to understand and follow assessment instructions

Exclusion criteria

  • Individuals with movement or functional limitations due to prior shoulder injuries
  • Exhibited allergic reactions or skin sensitivities to taping
  • Patients with any existing skin conditions

Treatment and study plan

Kinesiology taping

Other

The treatment group received Kinesiology Taping around the trunk extensors, lower and middle trapezius, supraspinatus, deltoid muscle group, and serratus anterior muscle.

Placebo kinesio taping

Other

In the control group, kinesiology tape was applied without tension and in a manner that did not target specific muscle groups or respect the anatomical origin and insertion points.

Primary outcomes

  1. The Trunk Impairment Scale

    Time frame: Change of trunk impairment from baseline at the end of 24 hours of each kinesiology taping intervention.

    The Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) is a validated assessment tool designed to evaluate trunk function in stroke patients, measuring static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and trunk coordination through a total of 17 items. Each item is scored based on the patient's performance, with the highest score recorded from three repetitions. The TIS provides a total score ranging from 0 to 23 points, where a higher score indicates better trunk function.

  2. Posture Evaluation

    Time frame: Change of posture scores from baseline at the end of 24 hours of each kinesiology taping intervention.

    Posture was assessed using the Posture Screen Mobile (PSM) application, a reliable and valid software tool for posture analysis available on iOS and Android devices. In this study, a physiotherapist utilized an iPad camera to capture sagittal plane photographs of each participant, which were then digitized by marking specific anatomical landmarks. The PSM application calculated anterior and lateral translations, as well as angular displacements, overlaying a grid on the images to assist in accurate landmark placement.

  3. Proprioception Evaluation

    Time frame: Change of proprioception scores from baseline at the end of 24 hours of each kinesiology taping intervention.

    Trunk and shoulder proprioception were evaluated using the inclinometer, with participants positioned at 30° forward flexion of the trunk for testing. They were instructed to hold this position for 5 seconds and then return to a neutral position for another 5 seconds before attempting to reproduce the initial benchmark position, with up to five attempts allowed. Shoulder proprioception was assessed at 75° and 90° flexion.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Motor Assessment Scale

    Time frame: Change of upper-limb function scores from baseline at the end of 24 hours of each kinesiology taping intervention.

    The Motor Assessment Scale (MAS) was employed to evaluate upper-limb function in stroke patients, focusing specifically on three items: item 6 (upper-limb function), item 7 (hand movements), and item 8 (advanced hand activities). Each item is scored on a scale from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating better functional ability, resulting in a total score range of 0 to 18 for these three items.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Beykent

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Immediate Effects of Kinesiology Taping on the Trunk-Scapula-Shoulder Complex in Stroke Patients: A Placebo-Controlled Study

Important dates

Study start
2015
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Dec 9, 2024
Registry last updated
Dec 12, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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