EFFECTS OF KINESIO TAPING ON STATIC BALANCE PERFORMANCE AND MUSCLE ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH DEVELOPMENTAL COORDINATION DISORDER: A SINGLE-GROUP PRETEST-POSTTEST STUDY

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of various kinesio tape applications on static balance and muscle activity in children with developmental coordination disorder. METHODS: Four taping conditions were applied to 48 children with developmental coordination disorder: no taping, gastrocnemius taping, tibialis anterior taping; and peroneus longus taping. Postural sway and electromyographic data were assessed, with eyes closed (30 s), standing still in 2-leg stance, dominant-leg stance, and non-dominant-leg stance. RESULTS: Kinesio taping significantly reduced postural sway in both anteroposterior and mediolateral directions for dominant-leg stance and non-dominant-leg stance, but not 2-leg stance. During single-leg stances, anteroposterior sway was significantly lower for the gastrocnemius taping condition than for the no taping, tibialis anterior and peroneus longus taping conditions, and significantly lower in the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus taping conditions than in the no taping condition (gastrocnemius < tibialis anterior = peroneus longus < no taping). In addition, mediolateral sway was significantly lower in the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus taping conditions than in the no taping and gastrocnemius taping conditions, and significantly lower in the gastrocnemius taping condition than in the no taping condition (tibialis anterior = peroneus longus < gastrocnemius < no taping). Electromyographic data showed that muscle activity was significantly greater only for muscles where kinesio tape was applied. CONCLUSION: Various kinesio tape applications can differentially reduce postural sway and increase muscle activity during single-leg stances in children with developmental coordination disorder. LAY ABSTRACT This is the first study to compare the effects of various kinesio tape applications on static balance performance and muscle activity in children with developmental coordination disorder. The following novel results were found: (i) kinesio taping can effectively enhance static balance performance in a single-leg stance; (ii) for anteroposterior sway, kinesio tape applied to the gastrocnemius is the most effective in enhancing balance; (iii) for mediolateral sway, kinesio tape applied to both the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus is the most effective in enhancing balance; and (iv) muscle activity was greater only for muscles where kinesio tape was applied. These findings establish the potential beneficial applications of kinesio tape for improving static balance performance and muscle activity in children with developmental coordination disorder.