Effect of Action Observation Therapy versus Kinesio Taping on Upper Extremity Function in Children with Erb\'s Palsy

resumen

Hassan Mansour Elhawary*, Mohamed B. Ibrahim, Osama Abd Elfattah El-Agamy, Akram M. Helmy, Ibrahim Mohamed Hamoda, Samar Taher Elbanna, Rania Elsayed Abdelaleem

Background: Erb’s palsy is a condition affecting children’s upper limb capabilities. One common therapeutic approach is Kinesio Taping (KT), which applies elastic tape to support muscles and improve joint mobility. Another method, Action Observation Therapy (AOT), helps patients recover motor skills by having them watch and mimic movements. This study compared how AOT and KT influence hand function and grip strength in children diagnosed with Erb’s palsy.

Methods: Thirty-eight children aged 5 to 7 years with C5-C6 Erb’s palsy participated in a randomized controlled trial. They were divided equally into two groups: one group performed AOT alongside a regular exercise program, and the other group received KT in addition to the same exercise plan. Hand function and grip strength were measured before and after a 12-week treatment period.

Results: After treatment, children in the AOT group showed a significantly greater improvement in grip strength compared to the KT group (P < 0.001). Their performance on fine motor tasks, such as writing, flipping cards, handling objects of various sizes, and stacking checkers, also improved more markedly (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Overall, action observation therapy led to better outcomes than kinesiology taping in enhancing grip strength and fine motor skills in children with Erb’s palsy. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT06930040)