title: Does neuromuscular taping influence hand kinesiology? A pilot study on Down's Syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper is a first attempt analysis of hand and upper limb proprioception coordination induced by NeuroMuscular Taping (NMT): application in a group of 5 participants with Down syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The participants underwent a drawing test with motion capture system acquisition before and after NMT application. Specific and descriptive parameters were computed and analysed in order to quantify the differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed statistical differences between pre and post treatment sessions: the 5 participants with Down syndrome evidenced more reliance on proprioceptive signals in the post treatment session during the execution of the specific writing tasks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the hypothesis that modifications in proprioception should alter motor pathway mapping of the motor cortex, Neuromuscular taping may play a role in the treatment of dysgraphia and improving hand coordination following CNS impairment, even though a small treatment group was chosen for this pilot study the results lead to further discussions concerning the role of different afferent signals in a pathological context.
authors.affiliation: Electronic, Information and Bioengineering Dept., Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rigoldi
authors.affiliation: Electronic, Information and Bioengineering Dept., Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy - IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Tosinvest Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division, Orthopaedic Department, Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celletti
authors.affiliation: NeuroMuscolar Taping Institute, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blow
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Division, Orthopaedic Department, Umberto I Hospital, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camerota
authors.affiliation: IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Tosinvest Sanità, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Albertini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055052:Athletic Tape; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000295:instrumentation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011434:Proprioception; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014956:Writing; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Down syndrome; Dysgraphia; Neuromuscolar taping; Proprioception; Writing skills