The effects of kinesiotaping technique on balance applied on the foot and ankle in patients with stroke

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of kinesiotaping technique on balance in patients with stroke and compare the balance of stroke patients with the balance of healthy subjects with similar age. 19 patients diagnosed with stroke with a mean age of 53 (44-63) years and a score of ? 3 according to the modified Rankin Scale and 16 healthy subjects with a mean age of 52 (40.75-61.75) years were included in the study. The Patients balance was evaluated before and after Kinesiotaping application by using the computerized dynamic posturography (NeuroCom International, Inc., Clackamas, SMART Balance Master). In the balance analysis, Sensory Organization Test, Adaptation Test, Limits of Stability Test and the Rhythmic Weight Shifting Test were used. In the examinations carried out to compare the balance of stroke patients and Individuals with similar age, statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the Sensory Organization Test, Adaptation Test, the last point distance, the maximum deviation and the linear control parameters of Limits of Stability Test and the forward and backward weight shifting parameters of the Rhythmic Weight Shifting Test. No statistically significant differences were observed in any other of the parameters (p <0.05. When the results of balance analysis in stroke patients, with Kinesiotaping application and without Kinesiotaping application were compared, the balance scores and the compound balance scores in the 3, 4, 5 and 6 states of the sensory organization test were found to be improved (p<0.05). In terms of the strategy points, the improvements were observed in the 1, 3 and 5 states (p <0.05). Improvements were observed in the patients with Kinesiotaping application in the 4th trial of the Adaptation Test, the maximum deviation and linear control parameters of the Limits of Stability Tests and the medium and fast speeds of the speed on axis parameters in the Rhythmic Weight Shifting test(p <0.05).The stroke patients were divided into two groups in order to examine the learning effect using a simple randomization method. According to the test results, there was no learning effect (p> 0.05).