The effect of ki̇nesio taping of plantar foot on postural control and balance in children with down syndrome

THE EFFECT OF KİNESIO TAPING OF PLANTAR FOOT ON POSTURAL CONTROL AND BALANCE IN CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME Pelin Atalan, PT. pelin.atalan@adu.edu.tr Dokuz Eylul University, School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of of kinesio taping of plantar foot on postural control and balance in children wıth Down Syndrome (DS). Method: 24 children with DS and 12 healthy children were included in the study. Children with DS were seperated into kinesiotape (KT) and sham tape (ST) groups. Assessments were applied to the KT and ST groups before the taping (BT), immediately after the taping (AT1) and after 45 minutes (AT2), and in the healthy control group (HC) only once. Functional balance were assessed with Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Functional Reach tests (FR), postural control evaluations by using Balancemaster and the plantar pressure by using the pedobarography device (EMED-M). Results: Comparisons between groups showed that children with DS had worse balance than HC. There was no statistically significant difference in FR, left reaction time, right, back, total movement velocity and backward directional control values of KT group in AT1, in left movement velocity values in AT2 compared to HC group (p>0.017). No statistically significant difference observed in left hindfoot contact area values of ST group in AT1, and FR, sway velocity while sitting to standing, front, right and backward directional control values in AT2 compared to HC (p>0.017). In intra-group comparisons, it was observed that the FR and right movement velocity values of KT group were statistically changed in AT1 compared to BT, FR values of ST in AT1 compared to BT and TUG values in AT2 compared to AT1. Conclusion: In children with DS, balance and postural control were found to be worse than healthy children, and significant improvements were detected in balance, postural control and functional test parameters with KT applied to the soles. Key Words: Down syndrome, Balance, Kinesio taping, Plantar pressure.