Effects of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave and Kinesio Taping Treatments in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

NCT ID: NCT06850779

Last Updated: 2025-02-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 76 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-10-01
• Study Completion Date: 2024-03-30

Brief Summary

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common upper extremity nerve compression syndrome that causes significant economic and social burden to affected individuals. Although the severity may vary among patients, symptoms such as night pain, transient numbness, tingling, constant pain, muscle weakness, and sleep disturbance may be observed. The treatment of CTS can be grouped as nonsurgical and surgical treatments. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of treatment with sound waves and a healing method called extracorporeal shock wave therapy and a therapeutic flexible tape called kinesiology taping on pain, grip strength, quality of life, depression symptoms, hand functions, and ultrasonographic median nerve cross-sectional area in patients with CTS.

Detailed Description

Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common nerve entrapment syndrome, typically affecting the dominant extremity. Symptoms often become more pronounced at night, and may include numbness, tingling, electric shock sensations, pain, and other related symptoms. Diagnosis can be made based on patient history, physical examination, electrodiagnostic tests, and ultrasonography. Treatment options include splinting, exercise therapy, physical therapy modalities, various injections, and surgical methods.

In our study, we compared the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and kinesiology taping (KT) on carpal tunnel syndrome. The study involved four randomized groups: Group 1 received both ESWT and KT, Group 2 received only ESWT, Group 3 received only KT, and Group 4 received exercise therapy alone. Evaluations were conducted using the Visual Analog Scale, Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire, Douleur Neuropathique 4 Questions, Nottingham Health Profile, grip strength measurements, and median nerve cross-sectional area via ultrasonography. Evaluations were performed three times: before treatment, at week 3, and at week 6.

Conditions

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Group 1

Those who received both extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and kinesio taping (KB)

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Radial ESWT (Vibrolith OrthoⓇ) was applied to the wrist as 1000 pulses with a frequency of 5 Hz and a power of 1.5 bar. The treatment was applied once a week for a total of 3 sessions.

Kinesio taping (KT)

Intervention Type: OTHER

KT was prepared as 2 pieces of 2.5 cm I band and 1 piece of 5 cm I band. It was applied with a maximum of 50% tension (without tension on the ends) while the wrist was in 30 degrees of extension, forearm supination and elbow extension. The treatment was applied once a week for a total of 3 sessions.

Exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Median nerve gliding exercises were given to the 4th group during the follow-up period. The same exercises were given to the other groups.

Group 2

Those who received ESWT

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)

Intervention Type: OTHER

Radial ESWT (Vibrolith OrthoⓇ) was applied to the wrist as 1000 pulses with a frequency of 5 Hz and a power of 1.5 bar. The treatment was applied once a week for a total of 3 sessions.

Exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Median nerve gliding exercises were given to the 4th group during the follow-up period. The same exercises were given to the other groups.

Group 3

Those who received KT

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Kinesio taping (KT)

Intervention Type: OTHER

KT was prepared as 2 pieces of 2.5 cm I band and 1 piece of 5 cm I band. It was applied with a maximum of 50% tension (without tension on the ends) while the wrist was in 30 degrees of extension, forearm supination and elbow extension. The treatment was applied once a week for a total of 3 sessions.

Exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Median nerve gliding exercises were given to the 4th group during the follow-up period. The same exercises were given to the other groups.

Group 4

Those who received only exercise

Group Type: OTHER

Exercise

Intervention Type: OTHER

Median nerve gliding exercises were given to the 4th group during the follow-up period. The same exercises were given to the other groups.

Interventions

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)

Radial ESWT (Vibrolith OrthoⓇ) was applied to the wrist as 1000 pulses with a frequency of 5 Hz and a power of 1.5 bar. The treatment was applied once a week for a total of 3 sessions.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Kinesio taping (KT)

KT was prepared as 2 pieces of 2.5 cm I band and 1 piece of 5 cm I band. It was applied with a maximum of 50% tension (without tension on the ends) while the wrist was in 30 degrees of extension, forearm supination and elbow extension. The treatment was applied once a week for a total of 3 sessions.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Exercise

Median nerve gliding exercises were given to the 4th group during the follow-up period. The same exercises were given to the other groups.

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Mild to moderate unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome confirmed by electroneuromyography (ENMG)
• Patients over 18 years of age
• Symptom duration of at least 3 months
• Those who have not received any medical treatment other than analgesics in the last 3 months

Exclusion Criteria

• Bilateral Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)
• Severe CTS detected by ENMG
• Operated CTS
• Corticosteroid injection within the last 3 months
• History of peripheral nerve damage
• Secondary CTS causes (thyroid dysfunction, connective tissue diseases)
• Cervical disc herniation
• DeQuervain tenosynovitis, trigger finger, Dupuytren contracture
• Inflammatory disorder
• Bleeding disorder
• Pregnancy
• Malignancy

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Selda Çiftci

Medical doctor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Banu Kuran, Professor, MD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital, Deparment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Locations

Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital

Istanbul, , Turkey (Türkiye)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Other Identifiers

26.09.2023/4106

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id