The Effect of Kinesio Taping (KT) on Postural Balance and Gait in School Children with Moderate Intellectual Disability (ID)

INTERVENTION: In obligatory Physical Education (PE) classes, the experimental group will perform dual‐task exercises consisting in improving motor functions (activities of daily living) and stimulating righting reactions, working with the same physiotherapists. The programme will comprise dual‐task exercises in which on unstable surfaces (stability balls, sensory air cushions ans soft mattresses) participants will perform functional tasks consisting of ADLs (for example: putting on and taking off footwear). The intervention programme will last for 12 weeks, and will include 45‐minute training sessions conducted three times per week. Additionally, it will be supplemented by the Kinesio Taping (KT) method during its whole length of 12 weeks. Elastic tapes will be applied according to well established methods by a trained physiotherapist on the sole side of both feet and they should be kept in situ for six days. After this period, a day of rest will be left in between to prevent skin intolerance and KT will be applied again. Before commencing the intervention and after 12 weeks, postural balance and foot typology will be assessed in all participants of the project on the BTS P‐WALK platform and the quality of gait by means of a G‐SENSOR. All measurements will be performed by the same independent researcher. CONDITION: balance gait intellectual disability PRIMARY OUTCOME: The influence of kinesio taping on balance – assessed by baropodometric platform. The influence of kinesio taping on foot typology – assessed by baropodometric platform. The influence of kinesio taping on load distribution – assessed by baropodometric platform. SECONDARY OUTCOME: The influence of kinesio taping on gait – assessed by BTS G‐WALK. INCLUSION CRITERIA: mild and moderate intellectual disability, Down Syndrome, ability to follow verbal instructions, ambulated without orthopaedic devices