THE EFFECT OF STIMULATION OF ANKLE TACTILE SYSTEM ON IMPROVING WALKING PATTERN IN WOMEN WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS) BY KINESIOTAPE (SEMI EXPERIMENTAL STUDY)

Non-medicinal treatments are suggested for controlling Multiple Sclerosis (MS) because of given high the prevalence of this disease, the high costs of drug treatment, side effects of the drug, and the lack of definitive treatment of the disease with existing drug. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect tactile stimulation of ankle by Kinesio Tape on walking kinematic properties in women with multiple sclerosis.

statistical sample of this study consisted of 10 women with multiple sclerosis) EDSS =5-6.5, age 20-35 years, height 161.12 ± 63 cm, mass 65.27 ± 7 Kg and BMI 24/98 ± /59 kg/m²). as the experimental group and 10 healthy matched women as control group.
 Anthropometric measurements and three dimensional kinematic features of the lower extremities joints were recorded by the motion analysis system during standing and walking with and without Kinesio tape on the ankle. Data were analyzed by repeated measures and Manova and SPSS software with significance level of (P<0.05).

The results of the study showed that multiple sclerosis influenced on walking pattern and the kinematic features and causing walking disorder. The use of kinesio tape significantly reduced the amount of stride time (P = 0.004).

Kinesio tape reduced step time by the increase of sensory inputs through elasticity of skin. The reduction of step time means the increase in the speed of walking. It indicated the more awareness of the patients from foot position and the more confidence for increasing speed step.