EFFECT OF RECIPROCAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION VERSUS KINESIO TAPING ON FINE MOTOR SKILLS IN HEMIPARETIC CEREBRAL PALSY CHILDREN

Abstract

Engi E. Sarhan, Mohamed Bedair Ibrahim, Basma Elsaid Mahmoud Bakr*, Abdelsattar Abdullah Elsayeh, Hajer M. Abdullatif, Sally Mosad Kamar and Nesma EM. Barakat

Background and Purpose: Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive brain lesion, which causes severe hand impairment in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy as well. In this study, we aimed to compare the effect of Reciprocal Electrical Stimulation (RES) versus Kinesio Taping (KT) on fine motor skills in children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy.

Materials and Methods: Sixty children of either sex aged 4-5 years having hand spasticity were selected for inclusion based on a modified Ashworth scale grade between 1 to 1+.They were randomly assigned into two equivalent groups (Groups I and II).In group I, RES targeting wrist flexors and extensors was used with an individualized physical therapy program while in group II KT was applied at the wrist flexors and extensors plus the same physical treatment as in group I had. Before evaluating the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale-2 (PDMS-2), grasping and visual motor integration subtests were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention.

Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups before treatment regarding mean values of all parameters (p > 0.05). Nonetheless, it was statistically significant that Group I attained higher results than Group II after the intervention period (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: both Reciprocal Electrical Stimulation (RES) and Kinesio Taping (KT) were effective in improving fine motor skills among children with hemiparetic cerebral palsy although RES was much more effective.