PICO
Patient/Population
Mild carpal tunnel syndrome for at least 8 weeks
(n=42)
Intervention
- Exercises
- Kinesio Taping (KT)
Comparison
- Exercises
- Sham Kinesio Taping
Outcomes
Function
Disability
- Pain
Translatability: (3/3) Easy
Comments: KT combined with specfic exercises may be more effective than exercise alone for improving hand function and symptoms in patients affected by mild CTS.
Limitations: The reproducibility of KT, a technique subjected to operator-dependent variations; KT might have different effects according to the potential anatomical differences; no data on the potential confounding factors, such as the use of anti-iflammatory drugs; small sample size.
Appraisals:
PEDro Scale – (8/10) Concealed allocation: No; Blind therapists: No. (by PEDro – confirmed)
Trustworthiness – The study contains no serious weaknesses. Based on this result you should conclude that the trustworthiness of the study is high (90%). This means there is a 10% chance that alternative explanations for the effect found are possible. The effect size was large and 95% CI was OK. (by CAT)
BTB
Intervention – 1
- Exercise
Dose
- 10 repetions
Periodicity
- 2 sessions/week for 5 weeks
Local/Technic:
1) active mobilization of interosseous muscles; 2) activation of flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor digitorum profundus; 3) active opposition of the thumb on the palm of the hand; 4) active opposition of thumb on each finger distal phalanx; 5) active metacarpophalangeal joints mobilization; 6) active flexion and extension of the radiocarpal joint.
Intervention – 2
- Kinesio taping
Dose
- —
Periodicity
- Patients wore KT until the following session.
Local/Technic:
According to the lymphatic correction technique, proposed by Kase (2003). The tape was cut in five strips and applied on palm and dorsum of patients’ hands (wrist at 30 ° extension, forearm in supination, and elbow in extension), using a very light tension (0- 15% of available), to relieve iflammation and edema.
Citation:
A. de Sire, C. Curci, M. Ferrara et al., Effectiveness of kinesio taping on hand functioning in patients with mild
carpal tunnel syndrome. A double-blind randomized controlled trial, Journal of Hand Therapy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jht.2021.04.011