Effect of Action Observation Therapy Versus Kinesio Taping on Upper Extremity Function In Children With Erb' Palsy

The examined group got 30 minutes of a standard, selected physical therapy program in addition to 30 minutes of AOT on the upper limb (total session time: 1 hour), 3 sessions per week for three consecutive months (total therapy time: 3 hours/week). Action observation was executed with therapist guidance and repeated practice (3 repetitions for each task). The child has been requested to perform the watched task with the same tool after observing a 3-minute video for each task on an adjustable monitor screen positioned one meter in front of him or her from forward, sideways, and backward directions. The therapist sat beside the child to provide verbal comments during the excursion and to guide the child's movement. The AOT for the examined group included six unimanual tasks and six bimanual tasks. The unimanual tasks included pressing a rubber stamp, stacking cups, drinking water from a cup, grabbing a pen, flipping cards, and putting things on a stick.

"Shoulder taping will done using two Kinesiotex tapes(2.5 · 7 cm), in the form of I shape. The tapes follow the line of pull of the anterior and posterior deltoid muscle fibers applied in order to assist the deltoid muscle action .~The tape was applied with the child in a sitting position by assistance from his care giver, while the therapist supported the child's arm. The first tape was initiated from the upper border of the lateral 1/3 of the clavicle to the deltoid prominence on the middle of the lateral side of the body of the humerus moving backward and lateralward while the arm was externally rotated and horizontally abducted. The second tape was initiated from the lower lip of the posterior border of the spine of the scapula towards also the humeral deltoid prominence moving forward and lateralward while the arm was horizontally adducted and internally rotated as if reaching to the outside of the contralateral hip."