Immediate effect of kinesio taping on dual task walking performance and balance in patients with acute stroke: pre-test–post-test comparative study

Kinesio taping is utilized to enhance muscle control and function by targeting the golgi tendon organ and muscle fascia in stroke rehabilitation. Within the broader objectives of stroke rehabilitation, dual tasks hold significant importance in improving attention, balance, and coordination skills. This study aimed to explore the immediate effect of kinesio taping applied to the m. quadriceps femoris and m. tibialis anterior on dual-task walking performance and dynamic balance in individuals with acute stroke. Additionally, a secondary objective was to explore the association between baseline mental function, assessed by MMSE, and dual-task walking performance and balance; mental function itself was not an intervention outcome. The pre-test–post-test comparative study involved a sample of 30 volunteer patients who experienced their first stroke within the past month. Participants were required to have upper and lower extremity stage of 5 or above according to the Brunnstrom recovery stage and a score of 24 or higher on the Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination. For the kinesio taping procedure, Kinesio Tex Blue Gold Tape was utilized, while a water bottle filled with water served as the supplementary task for dual motor function. The facilitation technique was employed to apply kinesio taping to the m. quadriceps femoris and m. tibialis anterior at the same time. The Dual-Task Walking Test and Sit-Stand Test were performed both pre and post kinesio taping application and compared. The mean change scores for DT-WT and SST were 0.68 ± 1.36 and 2.25 ± 1.89, respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed in the dual-task walking performance before and after the application of kinesio taping (p = 0.009). Furthermore, a significant improvement in dynamic balance was observed pre-and post-kinesio taping (p < 0.001). MMSE scores were negatively correlated with dual-task walking time before (r = −0.507, p = 0.004) and after taping (r = −0.457, p = 0.011); the association with SST was significant before taping (r = −0.400, p = 0.028), whereas no significant association was observed after taping (r = −0.278, p = 0.137). Dual-task walking and sit-to-stand performance improved immediately after kinesio taping; however, because the study had no control or sham-taping group, these pre-post changes cannot be attributed solely to kinesio taping. The observed associations with MMSE should be interpreted in light of the relatively preserved and restricted MMSE range of the participants and the absence of a cognitive intervention. Further studies including populations with a wider range of cognitive function are needed to clarify these associations.