TENS and Taping for Older People

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Defect; Postural
• Interventions: Behavioral: KT and sham TENS; Behavioral: TENS and sham taping; Behavioral: TENS and KT; Behavioral: Sham TENS and sham taping

• Registration Number: NCT05596110
• Lead Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong

Brief Summary

Aim: To examine the acute effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and Kinesio Taping (KT) on lower limb joint proprioception, static standing balance, limits of stability and functional balance performance in community-dwelling older adults.

Design: A one-group experimental study with a repeated-measures design. Sample: 24+ community-dwelling older adults Interventions: TENS and KT, TENS and sham taping, KT and sham TENS, and sham TENS and sham taping (30 minutes each) Major outcomes: Outcomes will be evaluated during each of the intervention conditions. Lower limb joint active repositioning error will be evaluated using a joint position sense test; a force platform will be used to assess the single-leg standing body sway path length and velocity; a functional reach test will give a score that reflects the limits of stability of the participants; and the timed up-and-go test will be used to quantify functional balance performance of the participants.

Anticipated results and significance: It is predicted that both TENS and KT, when applied together, may best improve lower limb joint proprioception and facilitate all balance performances among the community-dwelling older adults. These interventions could be applied in clinical settings to improve joint proprioception and postural control of the elderly people.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-10-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-10-20
• Study First Posted: 2022-10-27
• Status Verified: 2022-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-11-02
• Last Update Posted: 2022-11-07
• Study Start: 2022-12-01
• Primary Completion: 2023-11-30
• Study Completion: 2023-11-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 24

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: FACTORIAL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
KT and sham TENS	KT and sham TENS	KT will be applied to major postural muscles including the bilateral gluteus medius, quadriceps, and gastrocnemius of the participants. In addition, sham TENS will be applied on the medial and lateral joint lines of the knee and ankle joints and the anterior and posterior joint lines of the hip joint of both legs.
TENS and sham taping	TENS and sham taping	TENS will be applied on the medial and lateral joint lines of the knee and ankle joints and the anterior and posterior joint lines of the hip joint of both legs. In addition, sham tapes will be applied to major postural muscles including the bilateral gluteus medius, quadriceps, and gastrocnemius of the participants.
TENS and KT	TENS and KT	TENS will be applied on the medial and lateral joint lines of the knee and ankle joints and the anterior and posterior joint lines of the hip joint of both legs. In addition, KT will be applied to major postural muscles including the bilateral gluteus medius, quadriceps, and gastrocnemius of the participants.
Sham TENS and sham taping	Sham TENS and sham taping	Sham TENS will be applied on the medial and lateral joint lines of the knee and ankle joints and the anterior and posterior joint lines of the hip joint of both legs. In addition, sham tapes will be applied to major postural muscles including the bilateral gluteus medius, quadriceps, and gastrocnemius of the participants.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Joint active repositioning test error (using goniometry, in degree)	Day 1 to Day 4	Lower limb joint proprioception test - Joint active repositioning error of the hip, knee and ankle joints of both lower limbs

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Center of pressure (COP) sway velocity in static single-leg standing (using a force platform, in m/s)	Day 1 to Day 4	Static single-leg standing balance performance - COP sway velocity in static single-leg standing
Center of pressure (COP) sway path length in static single-leg standing (using a force platform, in cm)	Day 1 to Day 4	Static single-leg standing balance performance - COP sway path length in static single-leg standing
Functional Reach Test score (using a cloth measuring tape, in cm)	Day 1 to Day 4	Limits of stability balance performance - Functional Reach Test score
Timed Up-and-Go Test completion time (using a stop watch, in s)	Day 1 to Day 4	Functional balance performance - Timed Up-and-Go Test completion time