Effect of kinesio taping on swallowing function in parkinson patients: a surface electromyographic swallowing study

Abstract

Purpose: Progressive swallowing disorder is seen in Parkinson's patients. This study was designed to investigate the effect of kinesio taping (KT) on swallowing function by electrophysiological methods in Parkinson patients who had not swallowing problem, however, under risk. Methods: Eighteen with Parkinson’s disease and 15 healthy elderly who were 65 years and older, with no cardiopulmonary history and airway aspiration/penetration symptom were included in this study. They were applied KT with muscle facilitation technique for six weeks and three times per week. Single bolus analysis as surface electromyographic (EMG) swallowing evaluation was performed before and six weeks after the KT procedure. Results: According to pre-KT results, laryngeal relocation (p=0.011) and submental EMG (SM-EMG) total duration (p=0.009) were longer at Parkinson patients group although there was not any difference at post-KT (p>0.05). Furthermore, the before-after intragroup comparison showed that laryngeal relocation (p=0.013) and SM-EMG total duration (p=0.011) were found to be shorten. Conclusion: The result of our study shows that larynx movement time and submental muscle activation were improved with six weeks of KT application in Parkinson's patients. KT can be used as a complementary treatment method in patients with swallowing disorder. However, further research is needed to explore the efficiency in advanced stages of swallowing disorder.