Abstract

Background. Physiotherapy employs a number of kinesiotherapeutic methods based on understanding the course of the development- and movement-related neurophysiological processes, with PNF being one of the methods. Rehabilitation of stroke patients produces better results if different methods are combined, e. g. PNF and KT. Material and methods. The study involved 15 post-stroke patients, including 10 men and 5 women, aged 39-72. Each subject was examined once. Two muscle tone tests according to the Ashworth scale and three functional tests of the paralyzed upper extremity (prior to the therapy, on completion of PNF therapy and following functional KT application) were performed. The upper extremity function test consisted in the subject picking up an object. The distance [cm] between the object and the table surface was measured. Each patient underwent a 45-60 minute rehabilitation session using the PNF method. Additionally, KT was applied onto the radiocarpal joint extensor muscles.Results. Muscle tone according to the Ashworth scale did not change. The mean functional test results [cm] were as follows: 3.8 prior to the therapy, 6.6 post-PNF, and 7.8 post-KT. In two subjects the functional test results did not change, whereas the upper extremity function in the remaining 13 subjects improved after PNF therapy. A marked improvement was observed following the application of KT. In 10 patients, the additional KT application considerably facilitated PNF-based rehabilitation. Conclusions. A combined PNF and KT therapy contributes to improvement of function in the paralyzed extremity. Functional KT application proved to be useful and to facilitate PNF rehabilitation, and so the two modalities may and even should be combined. Although the patients were only subjected to a single PNF session, the function of the upper extremity improved. An even more marked improvement was observed following the functional application of KT. Muscle tone according to the Ashworth scale did not change significantly on completion of the therapy. However, it did not have a decisive influence on the positive results of the functional tests. We did not observe a correlation between the combined PNF and KT therapy and the duration of the post-stroke period was.

Key words:

Kinesiology Taping applications, PNF method, cerebral stroke