An interventional study of Kinesiology Tape in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, sponsored by University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-01-03.
Sponsored by University of Nevada, Las Vegas · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if dorsally applied kinesiology tape is an effective conservative treatment for symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome and assess the potential performance effect of the tape color in first-person shooter esports games in esports gamers who exhibit symptoms that resemble carpal tunnel syndrome. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Is dorsally applied kinesiology tape able to manage carpal tunnel syndrome-like symptoms in esports gamers? Does red kinesiology tape hinder or improve performance in first-person shooter esports games in esports gamers?
Researchers will compare red kinesiology tape to skin tone kinesiology tape. Both will be applied on the dorsal aspect of the hand and wrist of the dominant upper extremity.
Participants will visit the site 2 times to get kinesiology tape applied and complete a pre and post-test for pain and performance. Depending on randomization a participant will receive a random sequence of the study arm (ex: red then skin tone or skin tone then red tape)
Less Pain, More Game - Efficacy of Red Kinesiology Tape on Carpal Tunnel Symptoms and Performance in Esports Gamers is a clinical trial that aims to determine if dorsally applied kinesiology tape can manage or improve symptoms that resemble carpal tunnel syndrome in esports gamers. Esports gamers use their hands very differently from the average individual when participating in hours of video game play. This study first aims to test if kinesiology tape would benefit these individuals despite the frequency and intensity with which they use their hands and fingers.
Performance and competition is a major component of esports gaming participation. Despite how well kinesiology tape may improve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, it would not be a good treatment option if it hindered their ability to participate in esports. This study also aims to address performance as well. Color has been identified as a quality of kinesiology tape that may impact performance. Thus this study also seeks to assess the potential performance effect of the tape color in first-person shooter esports games in esports gamers who exhibit symptoms that resemble carpal tunnel syndrome.
Participants will visit the site 2 times to get kinesiology tape applied and complete a pre and post-test for the Short Form Mcgill Pain Questionnaire and a first-person shooter simulation to assess performance. The study design is a randomized controlled crossover trial thus depending on randomization a participant will receive a random sequence of the study arm (ex: red then skin tone or skin tone then red tape).
Results from this study would allow occupational therapists to promote health and wellness within the esports gamer population and enhance performance to give players an edge over their opponents.
589 studies on the registry are indexed under Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; 139 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 60 across 445 interventional studies indexed under Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Browse Carpal Tunnel Syndrome studies →University of Nevada, Las Vegas is the lead sponsor of 75 studies on the registry; 22 are open to participants now.
Of its 5 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 2 (40%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
The red kinesiology tape will be applied with the dorsal application for carpal tunnel syndrome. It is explained and utilized in Krause et al. (2020). The color red has been found in previous studies to impact motor function and performance in various activities specifically when looking at activities of an aggressive or competitive nature. Thus red was chosen when assessing the color effect of red in first-person shooter games which require outperforming the opponent with quick reaction time, accuracy, and aggression. Each participant will receive the red KT application only once. The order of which they receive the red KT or the skin tone KT will depend on their random assignment to group X or Y. The KT will be applied by an interventionist trained in proper KT application. Participants will be educated on self-removal specifically given by the manufacturer of the brand of KT used (Sparthos Tape). There will be a 7 day washout period between tape applications.
Device: Kinesiology Tape
The skin tone kinesiology tape will be applied with the dorsal application for carpal tunnel syndrome. It is explained and utilized in Krause et al. (2020). Sparthos KT offers skin tone KT covering multiple shades to allow the closest color to match the participant's skin. Utilizing other skin tones other than beige allows inclusion and diversity. The skin tone KT was chosen to diminish the effect of the KT color to allow better isolation and study of the effect of the color red in comparison. Each participant will receive the skin tone KT application only once. The order in which they receive the red KT or the skin tone KT will depend on their random assignment to group X or Y. The KT will be applied by an interventionist trained in proper KT application. Participants will be educated on self-removal specifically given by the manufacturer of the brand of KT used (Sparthos Tape). There will be a 7 day washout period between tape applications.
Device: Kinesiology Tape
The kinesiology tape (KT) is applied with the dorsal application for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). This method is utilized and explained in Krause et al. (2020). This study will assess the efficacy of the application method as well as the varying effects of the color of the KT. Red KT will be compared to skin tone KT. The skin tone KT will be color-matched as closely as possible to each participant's skin tone to reduce the effect of the KT color. In this way, the study's second purpose is to understand the potential effect of color on psychological function and performance in the context of aggressive first-person shooter esports games.
McGill Pain Questionnaire Short-Form
Short Form - McGill Pain Questionnaire - 2 will give outcomes of pain intensity and quality. It includes adjectives to describe both nociceptive pain and neuropathic pain. Pain descriptors can be categorized into Continuous (throbbing pain, cramping pain, gnawing pain, aching pain, heavy pain, tender), Intermittent (shooting pain, stabbing pain, sharp pain, splitting pain, electric-shock pain, piercing), Neuropathic (hot-burning pain, cold-freezing pain, pain caused by light touch, itching, tingling or "pins and needles", numbness), and Affective (tiring-exhausting, sickening, fearful, punishing-cruel) It will be taken 4 times by each participant: before the first application of the KT, after the first application of the KT, before the second application of the KT in the opposite color, and after the second application of the KT in the opposite color.
Time frame: at intervals throughout the 3 week cycle
3D Aim Trainer Attack Bombsite Simulation
It is an esports shooting simulation on easy difficulty and is completed on a Dell PC with a keyboard and mouse setup. It will measure performance through a collection of overall scores and accuracy percentages. The participants will have to shoot at enemy targets while dodging attacks and surviving to the next stage. Each stage of the simulation will increase in difficulty. The simulation will be completed with the computer set to a grayscale display to eliminate any effect of the colors of the original simulation. Each attempt of the simulation will end after 200 seconds. It will be completed in a private room with only the student researcher present. The simulation is free and can be found here: https://www.3daimtrainer.com/. Data from this simulation will be stored under the participant ID code on a protected Google Sheets document. It will be taken 4 times by each participant: before KT, after the KT, before the KT in the opposite color, and after KT in the opposite color.
Time frame: at intervals throughout the 3 week cycle
End of Study Survey
It is completed only once online after self-removal of the 2nd KT application. This survey will ask about how long the tape lasted before it lost adhesiveness, KT color preference, willingness to recommend KT to others, KT color effect on performance, and KT color effect on CTS symptoms. This will be completed anonymously on their own time as an additional component of the study to collect qualitative comments related to their experience with the KT. They will also be able to indicate their desire to learn how to self-apply KT. If they indicate an interest in self-application, they will be directed to email the student researcher.
Time frame: at the last visit of the 3-week study cycle
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Plan to share: No
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University of Nevada, Las Vegas