The immediate effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation with taping on gait parameters in patients with chronic stroke.

Only 20 patients were studied, with 7, 6 and 7 in the three groups, so the results are unstable. The paper does not describe randomisation method, allocation concealment or blinding; the authors say group membership could be seen because of the physical requirements and the visible taping and exercise design. Participants had to walk independently at least 8 m, have paretic ankle dorsiflexor strength not lower than fair, Brunnstrom stage 3 or above, no ankle orthopedic disease, no ankle surgery and no skin allergy, so it does not apply to more impaired stroke patients. The study was done in specific hospitals and measured only immediate effects after a single session, so it cannot show long-term benefit or generalise to all stroke patients. The positive finding came from a group receiving PNF and taping together, and the three groups did not differ, so the study cannot separate the contribution of any single component or show superiority.

Do not conclude that taping provides carryover gait improvement in chronic stroke. The group that changed received both PNF and taping, the three groups did not differ, and PNF alone or taping alone did not change gait. This small unblinded study cannot separate the components or establish benefit.