Symptom Severity and Hand Function Following Kinesio Taping Applicationin Informal Workers with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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Abstract
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common musculoskeletal disorder caused by compression of the median nerve, resulting in paresthesia, pain, and impaired hand function. If left untreated, CTS may lead to hand weakness, limitations in daily activities, reduced work productivity, and poorer quality of life. Although Kinesio Taping has emerged as a non-invasive intervention, evidence of its effectiveness among informal workers remains limited. This study aimed to analyze changes in symptom severity and hand function before and after kinesio taping application in informal workers with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study without a control group was conducted among 40 informal workers aged 18–60 years who had been clinically diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Surakarta, Indonesia. The participants received Kinesio Taping for 4 weeks. Outcomes were assessed using the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ), which included the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) and Functional Status Scale (FSS). As the data were not normally distributed based on the Shapiro–Wilk test, pre- and post-intervention scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The median SSS score decreased significantly from 3.55 to 2.10, while the median FSS score decreased from 3.30 to 2.00 (p < 0.001). These findings indicate a reduction in symptom severity and an improvement in hand function following kinesio taping application. The study supports its use as a practical, low-cost, and accessible intervention for informal workers with limited access to healthcare services.
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