The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of kinesiotaping treatment on pain, functional status and muscle strength in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Eighty patients aged 18 and over who were diagnosed with mild and moderate CTS with physical examination and electrophysiological findings and who applied to the Necmettin Erbakan University Meram Medical Faculty Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics were included in the study.

The patients’ age, gender, dominant hand, affected hand, body mass index, and demographic characteristics were recorded. The patients’ symptom duration, numbness and weakness, nocturnal symptoms, and electroneuromyography (ENMG) findings were recorded. Hand and wrist joint range of motion, thenar atrophy, thumb abduction muscle strength, sensory defect in the first 3 fingers, tinel test, phalen test and reverse phalen test data were recorded as physical examination findings. Visual analog scale (VAS), Boston KTS Questionnaire (BCTQ) and Jamar Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer were used as evaluation parameters. The patients were randomly divided into two groups as splint and splint + kinesiotaping treatment groups. Only patients in the splint group received a volar-assisted splint in the neutral position. The patients were asked to wear the splints especially during the night and as much as possible for 3 weeks. To the splint + kinesiotaping group however, in addition to splint application, kinesiotaping treatment was applied. Neural technique and field correction techniques were applied as a treatment technique. The banding process was repeated by the same person twice a week for 3 weeks.

Demographic data of the patients are given in Table 4.1. In both groups, VAS, BCTQ-Symptom Severity Scale (BCTQ), Functional Capacity Scale (FDS) and Hand Dynamometer (kg) measurements were statistically significant at 3 weeks post-treatment (p <0.01). No statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of VAS, BCTQ-SSS, BCTQ-FDS and Hand Dynamometer (kg) measurements. (p <0.01) (Table 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6).

In the conservative treatment of CTS, splint therapy has been shown to have a positive effect on VAS, BCTQ-SSS, BCTQ-FDS and hand muscle strength. Short-term superiority of only the splint application of the kinesiotapingtreatment with splint could not be demonstrated.

Keywords: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Splint, Kinesiotaping

-This study is made by Nadide ŞEN