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

Erb's palsy is a form of brachial plexus injury in which there is paralysis of the upper arm and shoulder girdle muscles due to an injury to the roots of 5th and 6th cervical roots or the upper part of the brachial plexus. It can also affect the feeling (sensation) in the arm.

Erb's palsy is otherwise known as Erb - Duchenne palsy. The incidence ranges globally from 0.2% to 0.4 %of live births. According to the World Health Organization, prevalence is generally 1-2% world- wide, with the higher numbers being in underdeveloped countries. Duchenne- Erb type constitutes a major form among brachial plexus palsied children as it accounts about 80-90% of all brachial plexus palsied cases as a result of unilateral upper trunk lesion. Erb's Palsy affects the nerves of the neck that control the motions of the arm. This condition turns muscles inward toward the body, disturbing mobility . It can occur during normal delivery if a baby's neck is stretched unnaturally as the head and shoulders pass through the birth canal. Early bodily trauma in the first few months of life may also lead to the palsy. Nearly all children recover completely, but occasionally there is some persistent nerve damage. It is important that some physiotherapy exercises are started early, which aim to prevent the arm becoming fixed in an abnormal position and improve the chances of a full recovery. The name of erb's palsy is derived from the doctor who first documented the condition. The word palsy refers to the weakness in the muscle- not paralysis. Erb's palsy symptoms have been improving or else it clears up on their own. While most of the cases are mild, each child will have various reactions to their nerve damage. Therefore, each child may require different kinds of intervention .

Erb's palsy is the affecting the muscles of the Early treatment may entail physical and occupational therapy, daily passive range of motion exercise, splinting to lessen the severity of biceps/triceps co-contraction. However, many times, deformations occur that require surgical intervention

The role of Physiotherapy in erb's palsy, prevent your baby's muscles from becoming short, prevent your baby's joints becoming stiff, give your baby the feeling of normal movement, so that when their recovery begins, they will not have forgotten how to use their arm (remember those kicks and punches in the womb), continue to stimulate the feeling in your baby's arm.

Kinesiology Tape A very useful physiotherapeutic modality nowadays, if applied properly is the kinesiology tape, which is valuable adjunct to therapeutic rehabilitations .Kinesio tape is thin and elastic tape that can be extended up to 120 -140% of its original Height, this elasticity result in less mechanism constraints. It allows a partial to full range of motion for the applied muscles and joints with different pulling forces to skin, it can be used both muscles relaxation and to facilitate muscle contraction depending on its application, it associated with improvement of the proprioception, strength, and range of motion of multiple joints.