Clinical trial NCT02025582: Kinesio Taping Effectiveness on Idiopathic Toe Walking
Official title: The Effectiveness and Efficacy of Kinesio Taping Method on Muscle Elasticity in Children Who Toe Walk
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: EARLY_PHASE1
Conditions: Idiopathic Toe Walking
Keywords: idiopathic toe walking
gait disorder
gait analysis
kinesio taping
ultrasound elastography
pediatric
children
muscle stiffness
muscle elasticity
Lead sponsor: Mayo Clinic
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2014-01-01
Enrollment: 10
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 3
Maximum age (years): 10
Standard ages: CHILD
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Idiopathic Toe Walking (ITW) is a diagnosis normally of exclusion and likely, consequently, is approached in vastly varying ways of intervention, including serial casting, Botox injections and physical therapy. There is some evidence in the literature that children with ITW can somewhat correct their lack of heel-strike gait pattern at least temporarily. Kinesio Taping (KT) method is an intervention that is used in the outpatient physical therapy setting for various conditions such as post-operative edema, muscle facilitation of weakened rotator cuff muscles, and functional corrections in children with torticollis. This pilot study will strive to determine if KT may be effective by providing proprioceptive and neuromuscular re-education through thermal and mechanical fascial impositions, thereby improving passive joint range of motion (ROM) through reduction of passive muscle stiffness and improving ambulation through neuromuscular re-education in children with idiopathic toe walking. We will quantify passive muscle stiffness of the gastrocnemius and opposing anterior tibialis using non-invasive Shear Wave Elastography (SWE). Further we look at the kinematics and kinetics of the child's ankle during the gait cycle to further determine any effect(s) of KT on functional walking outcome measures. The intent is that the results from this study will serve as a platform from which to expound look at the long-term, if any, effects of KT on the muscle property and gait cycle pattern in children with ITW.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Females and males
* 3-10 years of age
* who independently ambulate
* have a diagnosis of idiopathic toe walking

Exclusion Criteria:

* Children will be excluded if they have a diagnosis of or suspected neuromuscular disorder
* had prior treatment for ITW including bracing or including splinting in the last six months, chemodenervation, serial casting in the last six months, surgical intervention
* diagnosis of Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder
* history of allergic reactions to tape/adhesives.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change in Ankle Joint Range of Motion
timeFrame: At enrollment, one and two week after kinesio taping
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Advanced gait analysis - Change in kinetics
timeFrame: At enrollment, after completion of taping (2-3 weeks after enrollment)
Other outcomes:
measure: Supersonic Shearwave Ultrasound Elastography: Change in muscle elasticity
timeFrame: At enrollment, upon completion of taping (2-3 weeks after enrollment)
Locations:
city: Rochester
country: United States
facility: Mayo Clinic in Rochester
state: Minnesota
Study officials:
affiliation: Mayo Clinic Foundation
name: Hadiya Guerrero, DPT
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: