Effectiveness of shoulder kinesio taping and conventional exercises on Fugl­Meyer assessment scale and Rivermead mobility scale in sub­acute hemiplegic subjects with shoulder subluxation: A single group pre­post design

Abstract

Background. Most hemiplegic patients develop subluxation in the acute stage of stroke. Despite the administration of various prevention strategies in the acute stage, more than 80% of stroke survivors develop shoulder subluxation. Subluxed shoulder and associated postural deviations affect functional mobility in gait, balance, and transfers. Most of the time their posture is associated with flexor synergy in the elbow, forearm, wrist, and fingers. This eventually ends up with poor upper limb functions and functional mobility in gait and balance in their sub-acute and chronic stages. Purpose. Kinesio tape application helps in reducing the subluxation distance and thereby normalizes upper body posture. Conventional exercises consisting of passive range of motion (PROM) exercises/active range of motion (AROM) exercises and passive stretching to the elbow, wrist, hand, and fingers. Bilateral arm exercises, sitting balance training, pelvic control and trunk dissociation exercises, standing balance training and gait training improve lower body posture and movement. Both these interventions together improve the whole body's performance. i.e., shoulder, trunk, and lower limb. Therefore, this study intends to evaluate the differences in upper limb functions and functional mobility of sub-acute hemiplegic patients with shoulder subluxation in consideration for shoulder kinesio taping and conventional exercises for a period of 8 weeks. Method. Thirty-three subjects (post-stroke duration (45.42 ± 2.90) days) who could communicate adequately with intact cognitive functions and of Brunnstrom stages 2, 3, and 4, participated in a shoulder kinesio taping and conventional exercise intervention. Kinesio tape was applied twice a week whereas conventional exercises are applied for 5 days a week. The individual session duration was about 40 minutes a day. This fashion was continued for eight weeks. Results. At the end of the intervention with shoulder kinesio taping and conventional exercises, there was a notable change in upper limb function and functional mobility in sub-acute hemiplegic patients with shoulder subluxation. Conclusion. The intervention comprising shoulder kinesio taping and conventional exercises showed beneficial differences in upper limb functions and functional mobility in sub-acute stage hemiplegic patients with shoulder subluxation.