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Use of Taping in Treatment of Children With Neuromotor Impairments

 

What is Taping? 

Taping is a strategy that a therapist might try in order to increase a child’s functional activities and participation in society by achieving one or more of the following:

  • Provide joint stability                                  
  • Provide sensory proprioceptive input
  • Support weak or over-lengthened muscles
  • Increase or decrease muscle activation
  • Elongate shortened tissues                                       
  • Improve timing & sequencing of muscle
  • Stabilize subluzed/hypermobile joints                        
  • Alter selections of movement strategies
  • Affect bone modeling        
  • Improve postural alignment
  • Encourage use of more optimal movement patterns  
  • Reduce joint pain
  • Discourage use of compensatory patterns
  •  Provide improved alignment of a joint
  • Assist in flow of body fluids

Therapists indications for taping

  • Improving effectiveness of therapy by providing an “extra set of hands”
  • As an adjunct to equipment use
  • To assist with problem solving the need for equipment
  • To align the foot or wrist to hold a position for splinting or casting for orthotics
  • To improve carryover of therapy goals outside the therapy session

What types of tapes do therapists use?

  • Non-adhesive elastic tape type
    • Coban                
    • Neoprene              
    • Tensowrap
    • Thera-togs        
    • Hip Helpers           
    •  Tubigrip
    • Lycra                    

  • Ahesive elastic tape types - Kinesiotape
  • Non-elastic rigid tape types - Leukotape

Kinesiotape

  • A longitudinally elastic type tape that adheres directly to the skin
  • This type of tape is said to “talk to the muscles”
  • Latex free
  • Water resistant
  • Comes in a variety of widths
  • Stays on for 1-5 days and may be re-applied every 2 weeks

Rigid Taping/Leukotape

  • Provides alignment and support of body segments, limbs or specific joints
  • This type of tape is said to “talk to the bones”
  • May or may not have latex
  • Requires an underwrap
  • Requires skin prep test to examine for any allergic reaction
  • Does not stretch
  • Stays on for 5-7 days and can be re-applied every 3-4 weeks

Procedure Guidelines

It is imperative that the family be educated and involved in the entire taping process, as they have the responsibility of carrying over a wearing schedule, assessing their child’s reaction at home to the taping and removing the tape.  Parents can also be educated on applying the tape in certain situations. 

Getting Evaluated for Taping:

For more information about specific taping techniques, please contact our expert therapists at Ozaukee Therapy (262) 241-8030