Immediate Effects of Tibialis Anterior and Calf Muscle Taping on Center of Pressure Excursion in Chronic Stroke Patients: A Cross-Over Study

Stroke patients often have muscles spasticity, difficulty with posture control, and tend to fall. This study investigated the use of kinesiology tape for patients with spasticity of ankle muscles after stroke. This study had a randomized, repeated measures design, and evaluated the immediate effect of kinesiology tape on the center of pressure (COP) excursion when applied to the calf and tibialis anterior muscles in stroke survivors. We determined that the taping attachment direction affects the COP movement. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to the tibialis anterior taping condition, calf taping condition, or nontaping condition. Condition excursion was assessed. The measured variables included the paretic side area, nonparetic side area, forward area, and backward area of COP. All evaluations were conducted immediately after taping. COP excursion for chronic stroke survivors improved after tibialis anterior and calf taping (p < 0.05). Calf taping conditions increased significantly in the forward area (p < 0.05), and tibialis anterior taping conditions increased significantly in the backward area (p < 0.05). Kinesiology tape immediately increased the forward and backward COP excursion for patients with stroke.