Treatment Intervention of Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

China Medical University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Treatments: Other: kinesio taping (KT)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06464809

CMUH103-REC3-072

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of KT versus TENS combining self-myofascial stretching in treatment of CTS through clinical, functional assessment and sensory measurements.

Primary hypothesis The KT group has a more substantial improvement in hand grip, pain relief, enhancing proprioceptive sensitivity and dexterity compare to the TENS group. treatment program,

Full description

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of a home-based treatment program involving Kinesio taping (KT) or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) among carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) patients.

Methods:

30 participants with CTS were enrolled, age range, 30 to 60 years. The participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomized into one of two treatment groups: KT group and TENS group. Participants were blinded to the treatments used in the other group.

Patients with CTS received aforementioned treatments compared with reliable qualitative and quantitative evaluation tools before and after 4-week treatment, as well as at a additional 4-week follow-up. The main parameters include the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) and Functional Status Scale (FSS), hand grip and key pinch strengths, two-point discrimination (2PD), Modified Moberg pick-up test (MMPUT), and Pain assessment (visual analog scale, VAS).

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• numbness and tingling in the median nerve territory of the hand.
• nocturnal paresthesia.
• induction test (Tinel's sign and Phalen's test) showing a positive finding.,
• is defined as mild and moderate CTS according to nerve conduction studies (NCSs).

Exclusion criteria

• is defined severe CTS symptoms.
• are currently pregnant or have any secondary entrapment neuropathy (e.g., diabetes, inflammatory arthritis, hypothyroidism, previous wrist trauma).
• cervical radiculopathy or polyneuropathy.
• previous history of carpal tunnel decompression surgery.
• corticosteroid injection into the carpal tunnel.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

kinesio taping (KT) group

Experimental group

Description:

Three precut KT I strips with a width of 5 cm were used. The first strip is applied with the subject's wrist in fully extended hand position. Middle and ring fingers through the holes with the base of the tape as anchored to the knuckles, and then the tape was applied with 15%-25% tension covering the palm and the wrist, and the remainder of the tape without any tension from the wrist up to the forearm. The same process is repeated for the second I-strip, which was applied from the dorsum of the hand to wrist while the wrist in a downward flexed position. The final strip was applied to the carpal tunnel region with 25%-35% tension.

Treatment:

Other: kinesio taping (KT)

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) group

Active Comparator group

Description:

A portable TENS unit (Gem-Stim, Gemore Technology Co., LTD. Taiwan) was used, and delivered a bi-phasic symmetric waveform at a continuous frequency of 100 Hz and phase duration of 200 µsec. The intensity was gradually adjusted up to a strong but comfortable l level, as reported by the subject. Two electrodes were placed 2 cm apart, respectively attached to the carpal ligament of the affected side and the proximal end along the direction of the median nerve.

Treatment:

Other: kinesio taping (KT)