THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF ANKLE JOINT TAPING COMBINED WITH FUNCTIONAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION FOR THE CORRECTION OF POST STROKE FOOT DROP

OBJECTIVE Post stroke foot is inability to lift foot at ankle joint due to paralysis of ankle dorsiflexor muscles. It is a common problem faced by stroke survivors. To determine the effect of ankle joint taping combined with functional electrical stimulation on post stroke foot drop. METHODS It was an experimental study. 10 stroke patients with foot drop were enlisted for the study by convenience sampling and randomized into two groups. The group A or treatment group (n-5) received kinesiotaping of ankle joint and functional electrical stimulation while group B or control group (n-5) received functional electrical stimulation only. Clinical assessment was done before and after study. Outcome measures were Manual Muscle Testing, active ankle dorsiflexion and time up and go test. RESULTS Improvement was recorded in both kinesiotaping of ankle joint with functional electrical stimulation and functional electrical stimulation groups for MMT and active range of ankle dorsiflexion and there was no significant improvement in time up and go test. But statistically non-significant difference between both groups is observed (Z=-2.000, p=0.46). CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that there is no clear benefit of ankle joint taping combined with functional electrical stimulation for correction of post stroke foot drop.