Acute effect of kinesiologic taping on performance and energy expenditure in duchenne muscular dystrophy

This study was planned to investigate the acute effect of muscle facilitation application on performance and energy consumption in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Forty-five patients from Level 1 and 2 according to the Brooke Lower Extremity Functional Classification were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the children were recorded. Performance by the 6-min walking test (6MWT), timed performance tests and the number of steps; energy consumption by Physiological Expenditure Index (PEI), heart rate and oxygen saturation; balance by Pediatric Berg Balance Scale and Timed Up and Go tests and walking by footprint method on powdered ground was assessed. In the study, kinesiologic taping with facilitation technique (KT) was applied on bilateral quadriceps and tibialis anterior muscles and the assesments were repeated 1 hour after application. There was found significant difference in 6 DYT, descending 4 steps and 10m walking tests (p <0.05) while no significant difference in energy consumption after banding application (p> 0.05). The change in the walking and balance parameters was found to be significant (p <0.05). The results of our study suggest that the kinesiology taping applied to patients with DMD in early period has a positive effect on performance, walking and balance parameters and that banding application can be included in rehabilitation programs.