Cane is one of the common assistive devices prescribed for individuals with stroke to improve walking ability and safety. It was revealed that long-term cane-assisted individuals with chronic stroke perform abnormal gait pattern during walking. To improve these impairments, strengthening, balance training, task-specific training and intensive mobility training have been suggested. However, the training effects on motor function were limited in cane-assisted individuals with chronic stroke. It is supposed that musculoskeletal alignment of these individuals is not on the efficient position, which may restrict the training effects. The immediate effects of joint alignment adjusted with Luekotape® P on muscle strength, balance and gait performance has been proved in individuals with stroke. However, the effects of taping combined with exercise training is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effects of non-elastic tape combined with exercise training on motor function in cane-assisted individuals with chronic stroke.

Subjects were randomized into either the experiment group with Luekotape® P or control group with sham tape. Subjects in both groups received the same exercise training for six weeks. The primary outcomes were gait performance and Berg balance scale. The secondary outcomes were muscle strength of hip extensors and abductors, endurance and fear of falling. Outcomes measurements were performed before and after the intervention and then one-month follow-up.

The intervention significantly improved cadence, stance time of affected side, spatial asymmetry ratio, Berg balance scores, and fall efficacy scale scores as well as 6-minutes walk test in the experimental group. In the control group, only the Berg balance scores and 6-minutes walk test had been significantly improved.

Although all outcomes did not show significant differences between groups. Our results suggested that exercise combined with Luekotape® P may have more improvement than exercise alone in stance time, cadence, spatial asymmetry ratio, endurance, and fall efficacy scale.