Objective We aimed to compare the short- and medium-term efficacy of
dorso-volar kinesiotape (KT) added to home exercises (HE) with sham-KT and HE
alone in the treatment of mild or moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in terms
of pain, symptom severity, function, gripping strength, and electrophysiological
parameters.
Materials and Methods A total of 120 patients (99 females, 21 males) were
divided into three groups dorso-volar KT and HE (n=40), sham-KT and HE (n=40),
and HE (n=40). Pain (The visual analog scale [VAS]), symptom severity (Boston
symptom severity scale [SSS]), functional status (Boston functional status scale
[FSS]), nerve conduction study (NCS), hand, finger muscle strength were
evaluated pretreatment, at the end of treatment (4th week), and in the third
month posttreatment.
Results There were statistically significant improvements in VAS
(p<0.001), Boston SSS (except HE group) (p<0.001), and Boston FSS
(p<0.001) in all groups posttreatment compared to pretreatment, and more in
the dorso-volar KT group than pretreatment and the posivite improvement
continued at a decreasing rate in the third month posttreatment. At the end of
treatment the dorso-volar KT group showed statistically significant improvement
in Boston SSS (p<0.001, p<0.001) and Boston FSS (p<0.001, p<0.001)
compared to the sham-KT and HE groups.
Conclusions The combination of dorso-volar KT and HE program makes a more
effective and durable contribution to the improvement of CTS symptom severity,
pain and functional status, as well as handgrip strength and NCS parameters
compared with sham-KT and HE program.