Use the Back button in your browser to see the other results of your search or to select another record.

Detailed Search Results

Efficacy of Kinesio Taping on hand functioning in patients with mild carpal tunnel syndrome. A double-blind randomized controlled trial [with consumer summary]
de Sire A, Curci C, Ferrara M, Losco L, Spalek R, Cisari C, Invernizzi M, Solaro C
Journal of Hand Therapy 2022 Oct-Dec;35(4):605-612
clinical trial
8/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: Yes; Blind subjects: Yes; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: Yes; Adequate follow-up: Yes; Intention-to-treat analysis: Yes; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: Yes. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed*

STUDY DESIGN: Double-blind randomized controlled trial. INTRODUCTION: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common mononeuropathy that causes pain and disability in the affected hand. Kinesio Taping (KT) has been recently proposed as a promising conservative approach in CTS patients. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: To investigate the effectiveness of KT compared to a sham taping on symptoms and hand function in patients affected by mild CTS. METHODS: Patients affected by mild CTS with symptoms for at least 8 weeks were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups: KT group, according to the technique proposed by Kase plus specific exercises; control group, undergoing a sham taping plus specific exercise. All patients performed 2 sessions/week for 5 weeks of exercises of mobilization of fingers and carpal joint. At the baseline, after 5 weeks (T1), and after 6 months (T2), a physician unaware of patients' allocation assessed the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) symptom (BCTQ-S) and functional (BCTQ-F) subscales. RESULTS: Forty-two patients (mean age 54.3 +/- 15.0 y) were randomly allocated into KT (n = 21) and control group (n = 21). At T1, in both groups we found a significant improvement in hand function and symptoms, as showed by BCTQ-F (KT 4.2 +/- 0.7 versus 3.0 +/- 0.6, p < 0.001; sham 2.2 +/- 0.3 versus 1.7 +/- 0.3, p = 0.012) and by BCTQ-S (KT 2.2 +/- 0.3 versus 1.7 +/- 0.3, p < 0.001; sham 2.3 +/- 0.4 versus 1.9 +/- 0.5, p = 0.007). At T2, only in the KT group there was a significant difference in both sub-items of primary outcome. There were significantly better results in the KT group at T1 and T2. DISCUSSION: The present study showed that KT compared to a sham taping might be more effective in reducing perceived symptoms in mild CTS patients, reporting a clinically significant difference. CONCLUSION: KT might be considered as an effective technique combined to rehabilitative treatment in terms of hand function and symptoms in patients affected by mild CTS.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help