Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Physical Therapy - Department of Growth and Development Disorders in Pediatrics

Background: Children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (cp) have many balance problems in standing and walking, using of kinesiotape over ankle dorsiflexors may help in improving balance in those children. Purpose: To determine the effect of kinesiotape applied over ankle dorsi flexors muscles for both lower limbs on balance in children with spastic diplegia. Methods: Thirty children with spastic diplegia of both gender participated in the study, they included 16 boys and 14 girls, with age ranged from 4 to 10 years, they were divided randomly into two groups of equal number, Control group (A) received the designed physical therapy exercise program for children with diplegia. While study group (B) received the same physical therapy exercise program as in group A in addition to kinesiotape application over the ankle dorsi flexors muscles for both lower limbs. Both groups had received treatment program for 1 hour, three times per week for three successive months. Balance was assessed for children in both groups by Biodex balance system before and after treatment. Results: Before treatment, there was no significant difference between the two groups (A& B) which reflected that sample in the two groups was homogenous. When comparing pre and post treatment results of the stability indices (AntroPosterior, MedioLateral, Overall Stability index), there was significant improvement in both groups, Comparison between both groups post treatment revealed a significant decrease in the measured variables of the study group compared with that of the control group (p<0.05), which reflect significant balance improvement in favor of study group

Issued also as CD