Year: 2026 | Month: January-March | Volume: 11 | Issue: 1 | Pages: 209-224
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijshr.20260122
Effect of Kinesiotaping Versus Ankle Foot Orthosis on Balance and Gait Speed in Post-Stroke Subjects
Koyyana Pavani Prasanna1, Kiran Prakash Pappala2, Patchava Apparao3, Nandina Venkatesh4, Chintada Ganapathi Swamy5
1MPT Neurology, Department of Neurology, Swatantra institute of Physiotherapy and rehabilitation, Dr. NTR University, Vijayawada, India.
2Professor, Department of Neurology, Swatantra Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Dr. NTR University, Vijayawada, India.
3Principal, Department of Orthopaedics, Swatantra Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Dr. NTR University, Vijayawada, India.
4Assistant Professor, Department of Neurology, Swatantra Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Dr. NTR University, Vijayawada, India.
5Associate Professor of Biostatistics, GSL Medical College, Dr. NTR University, Vijayawada, India.
Corresponding Author: Koyyana Pavani Prasanna
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Stroke often leads to motor impairments such as balance dysfunction and reduced gait speed, which significantly limit functional independence. Restoring balance and walking ability is therefore a primary goal in stroke rehabilitation. Among the various rehabilitation approaches, Kinesio taping and ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) are commonly used interventions to enhance postural stability and gait. However, there is limited evidence directly comparing their effectiveness. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of Kinesio taping versus ankle-foot orthosis, both in combination with conventional physiotherapy, on improving balance and gait speed in post-stroke subjects.
METHODS: Quasi-experimental study design, in this study, there were 64 subjects with an average age of over 58.5±6.2 years, a clinical diagnosis of stroke with balance impairment, and who were divided into two groups at randomly. The subjects in Group A (n = 30) received Kinesio taping plus conventional physiotherapy and Group B (n =30) received Ankle foot orthosis plus conventional physiotherapy. Intervention was given to participants for 30minute 5 days a week for 6 weeks. The BBS and GAIT SPEED were used to assess the intervention effectiveness.
RESULTS: In Group A, the mean BBS score improves from 39.92±2.19 to 50.23±1.65 (p<0.001), with a significant increase in gait speed of 0.432±0.0313 (p<0.001). In Group B, the mean BBS score improved from 40.33±2.38 to 44.83 ± 2.26 (p <0.001), along with significant improvement in gait speed of 0.468±0.067 to 0.710±0.0035 (p<0.001). Between-group comparison showed greater improvement in balance and gait speed in group A compared to group B (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: The present study concludes Kinesio taping plus conventional physiotherapy group showed significant improvements in balance and gait speed in subjects with post-stroke. However, Kinesio taping plus conventional physiotherapy group is more effective than ankle foot orthosis along with conventional physiotherapy group. Therefore, it may be recommended from these findings that Kinesio taping may be used as an adjunct to conventional physiotherapy for treatment of improving balance and gait speed in the rehabilitation clinics.
Keywords: stroke, Gait, balance, Kinesio taping, ankle foot orthosis, conventional physiotherapy.