Effects of the neuromuscular bandage as rehabilitative treatment of patients with drooling and intellectual disability: an interventional study.
Kinesio Tape under the chin safely cut drooling in teens and young adults with ID within weeks.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team taped teens and young adults with intellectual disability.
They placed Kinesio Tape over the suprahyoid muscles under the chin.
Tape stayed on for three months while staff checked drooling each week.
What they found
Drooling dropped on all three clinic scales after one month.
Scores stayed low at the three-month mark.
No extra drugs or surgery were needed.
How this fits with other research
Giagazoglou et al. (2013) also used a body-based tool—hippotherapy—to help teens with ID move faster.
Both studies show simple physical aids can boost motor control without pills.
Cruz et al. (2025) tried a tight therapeutic suit for kids with CP and saw better balance.
Their suit and this tape both give the skin a light pull that may wake up weak muscles.
Ellingsen et al. (2014) ran a longer fitness program and still saw gains, so short-term tape is a quicker option for one symptom.
Why it matters
If a client with ID drools during table work, one strip of tape under the chin could cut the mess.
You can apply it in five minutes, keep data for a week, and see if clothes stay dry.
No extra meds, no office visit, and parents can learn to replace the tape at home.
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Join Free →Place one strip of Kinesio Tape under the chin, take a quick drool count each hour, and graph the results after one week.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: The aim of this work was to assess the effect of neurological bandages (Kinesio Taping) for managing saliva flow in patients with drooling and intellectual disability. METHODS: Quasi-experimental study included 30 patients (20 male and 10 female participants) mean age of 15 years with intellectual disability and drooling [Public Special Education Centre in Cartagena (Murcia, Spain)]. Treatment consisted of the application of a strip of neuromuscular bandage applied in the suprahyoid area for a 3-month period. Efficacy was assessed by means of three clinical scales: the Sialorrhea clinical scale, the drooling rating scale and the drooling impact scale. These evaluations were performed at baseline, after 1 and 3 months of intervention. RESULTS: Clinical improvements were obtained, showing statistically significant reductions in drooling after 1 month (P < 0.001) and 3 months (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The application of neuromuscular bandages in the suprahyoid muscle area can be a useful option for managing drooling in patients with intellectual disability.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2019 · doi:10.1111/jir.12593