The influence of kinesio taping for patients after distal radius fractures for hand function and self – independence

Distal radius fractures are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries. It consists about 3% of all hand injuries. In Lithuania 1375 patients were hospitalized in 2010 year. Men injury rate has unchanged. Women injuries rate from 50-55 has doubled. Aim of work was to estimate occupational therapy and kinesio taping influence to patients, experienced radius fractures. Tasks of this work were: 1. Evaluate patients hand function and independence before and after occupational therapy through kinesio taping. 2. Evaluate patients hand function and independence before and after occupational therapy using kinesio taping. 3. Compare the effectiveness of occupational therapy through kinesio taping. Research was conducted in October 2013 – March to examine the 32 patients experienced distal radius fractures at Kaunas Clinical hospital and Kaunas clinics in rehabilitation department. Patients were divided into two groups: control and study. The control group consisted of patients who received occupational therapy without kinesio taping. The study group consisted of patients who received occupational therapy through kinesio taping. The individual occupational therapy program were formed and applied for both groups of patients according to the hand function and self – independence. For occupational therapy program to evaluate the effectiveness of kinesio taping were used: specially for this research prepared questionnaire; hand strength was measured with dynamometer; functional range of motion of the hand was measured with goniometer; rigor and pain was also evaluated; patients were examined with function movement test (Modified Keitel index). Conclusions: 1. The research showed that occupational therapy through kinesio taping statistically significant reduced in pain and stiffness for patients after distal radius fractures. 2. The occupational therapy improved hand function and independence for patients in control group. 3. The hand function indices of study group were higher than in control group, except for the hand crank deviation indicators. In addition, rehabilitation procedures and occupational therapy treatments enhances kinesio taping effect in relieving pain, muscle stiffness, increasing range motion of the hand