Effectiveness of kinesio taping in addition to routine physical therapy on balance, gait and quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease

Primary aim of this study is to evaluate kinesio taping (KT) in addition to routine physical therapy (RPT) on balance, gait and quality in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. Secondary aim, evaluate effectiveness of KT on motor symptoms, freezing of gait and activities of daily livings in PD. This study also investigate the immediate effects of KT on balance and gait in PD patients.

Parallel group, double blind, randomized controlled trial, enrolled between March 2019 and July 2019, and followed for 3 months

University Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Clinic, University of Lahore. Participant, outcome assessor and data analyser blinded.

Patients are eligible if they had diagnosis of PD according to UK Brain Bank criteria, modified Hoehn & Yahr Stage 2.5-3, MDS-UPDRS III subscore for “gait” and “postural stability” is ≥ 1. Stable dose of levodopa for last 4 weeks. They are excluded if they score Mini Mental State Examination < 24/30. Patient had deep brain stimulation surgery. Fixed vertebral deformities. Have severe cardiovascular or pulmonary problems.

In RPT, stretching, strengthening exercises, balance exercises; aerobic exercises, treadmill training were also given. In intervention group KT along with RPT given. KT was applied in a tailored manner for each patient, on two regions, back and leg. On back, 2 strips were applied along the dorsal lumbar spinal tract between the T1 and L5 vertebrae spinous processes, bilaterally. While adding 1 other vertical strip on the lumbar region (quadratus lumborum muscle) opposite to the flexed side. On both legs, KT was attached to the skin on the course of tibialis anterior muscle.

GAITRite Platinum system (GaitRite, CIR system Inc., USA, 2008). Parkinson’s Disease Questionnaire 39 (PDQ-39) Berg Balance Scale MDS-UPDRS III

This study was designed to be a parallel group randomized controlled trial. After baseline assessment, eligible patients were randomly assigned (in a 1:1 ratio) to either kinesio taping + routine physical therapy (kinesio taping intervention group) or routine physical therapy (control group). Computer generated randomization assignments were designed by an independent statistician and randomization was done by one of the research team member who was not involved in patient recruitment or assessment or data analysis. Randomization is without stratification, with the use of permuted-block randomization; the randomization assignments were kept in opaque, sealed envelopes and unsealed by a researcher after baseline testing.Outcome assessors were unaware of group assignment.

After randomisation, study participants were only informed about the content of their allocated programme by their therapist, remaining unaware of the intervention in the other group. Patient brochure stated that the study purpose was to evaluate the effects of physical therapy interventions on Parkinson’s disease symptoms, without mentioning that one of the programmes was considered a control intervention. Information about the details of both programmes was not provided except for similarities across both groups (treadmill training, aerobic exercise three times per week). Both programmes were personalised to the patient’s abilities to ensure all eligible patients could complete the programme. Researchers who assessed outcomes or did data analyses were masked to group allocation. Patients were instructed not to talk about the content of their exercise programme during the post intervention visit and could contact their therapist in case of any problems during trial participation. Moreover, if two or more study participants were in the clinic/hospital at the same time, they were assigned to different treatment areas without any opportunity to observe each other or their treatment times were rearranged to prevent unintended crossover. During outcomes assessment patients were covered in such a way that kinesio tape could not be visible to assessor and it also did not impede patient’s abilities to perform activities.

IPD, study protocol, statistical analysis plan, informed consent form and clinical study report will be shared for primary and secondary outcome measure with interested research after considering the ethics and confidentiality.

Data will be available after 6 months of publication for 3 consecutive years.

Data will only be shared with individual researcher and academic researchers working in movement disorders. Data will not be shared for any commercial purposes/businesses for any reasons.

Data can be used under confidentiality and ethics.

Data can be obtained by emailing at haiderullah@live.com. Mobile number 0092 331 4127210

Simple email can do this. But this can take up to 4 weeks depends on busy schedule of investigator.