Whole-Body Vibration Training Versus Kinesiology Taping for Improving Gait Performance in Children With Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Gait abnormalities are among the most disabling functional limitations in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Physiotherapeutic interventions that enhance neuromuscular control and biomechanical alignment may improve gait performance. Whole-body vibration training and kinesiology taping have emerged as rehabilitation strategies aimed at improving motor control and functional mobility. Objective The objective of this study is to compare the efficacy of whole-body vibration training and kinesiology taping on gait performance in children with spastic cerebral palsy. Methods This randomized controlled trial included 86 ambulatory children with spastic cerebral palsy aged 3-12 years classified within Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I-III. Participants were randomly assigned to either a whole-body vibration training group (n = 42) or a kinesiology taping group (n = 44). Interventions were administered three times per week for 12 weeks. Gait performance was assessed using the Edinburgh visual gait score at baseline, six weeks, and 12 weeks. Within-group changes were analyzed using the Friedman test with Dunn-Bonferroni post-hoc comparisons, while between-group differences were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results Both intervention groups demonstrated improvements in gait performance across the study period. Within-group analysis revealed significant improvements in the Edinburgh visual gait score from baseline to six weeks and baseline to 12 weeks (p < 0.05). However, between-group comparisons showed no statistically significant differences between the whole-body vibration and kinesiology taping groups at baseline, six weeks, or 12 weeks (p > 0.05). Conclusion Whole-body vibration training and kinesiology taping both improved gait performance in children with spastic cerebral palsy. However, neither intervention demonstrated clear superiority. These findings suggest that both modalities may serve as effective physiotherapy interventions for improving gait performance in pediatric cerebral palsy rehabilitation.