Efficacy of Red Kinesiology Tape on Carpal Tunnel-Like Symptoms and Performance in Esports Gamers

NCT06757062 | Recruiting FDA Device

• 1 other identifier: UNLV-2024-431
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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)

Conditions

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Keywords

Esports; Gamers; Carapl Tunnel Syndrome; Performance; First Person Shooter; Red; Color Theory; Kinesio Tape; Kinesiology Tape; Dorsal Application

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 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.

  at intervals throughout the 3 week cycle

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• 3D Aim Trainer Attack Bombsite Simulation

  at intervals throughout the 3 week cycle

Other Outcomes (1)

• End of Study Survey

  at the last visit of the 3-week study cycle

Study Arms (2)

Red Kinesiology Tape Applied with the Dorsal Application for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

EXPERIMENTAL

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

Skin Tone Kinesiology Tape Applied with the Dorsal Application for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Interventions

Kinesiology Tape DEVICE

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.

Red Kinesiology Tape Applied with the Dorsal Application for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Skin Tone Kinesiology Tape Applied with the Dorsal Application for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• over 18 years old
• can see color vision
• reports having numbness, tingling, weakness, or pain in the hands, wrist, or fingers
• has a positive Phalen's test result
• passes Ishihara Color Vision Test with a score of at least 12
• provides written consent
• reports to play video games over 5 hours a week on average

You may not qualify if:

• cognitively impaired
• pregnant
• has history of skin conditions
• has history of hand conditions other than carpal tunnel syndrome
• has history of surgery to the wrist, hand, or fingers
• is currently receiving other forms of physiotherapy
• has open wounds on the kinesiology tape application site

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nevada, Las Vegas: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Shadow Lane Campus

Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

• Krause D, Roll SC, Javaherian-Dysinger H, Daher N. Comparative efficacy of the dorsal application of Kinesio tape and splinting for carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial. J Hand Ther. 2021 Jul-Sep;34(3):351-361. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2020.03.010. Epub 2020 Sep 4.

  PMID: 32893100 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; Erythema

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Median Neuropathy; Mononeuropathies; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Nerve Compression Syndromes; Cumulative Trauma Disorders; Sprains and Strains; Wounds and Injuries; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Skin Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Donnamarie Krause, Ph.D

  University of Nevada, Las Vegas

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Sarah A Taing

CONTACT

7022727855; taings3@unlv.nevada.edu

Donnamarie Krause, Ph.D

CONTACT

7632342532; donnamarie.krause@unlv.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: PhD, OTR/L, Director Doctor of Occupational Therapy Programs, Principal Investigator, Associate Professor

Model Details: Participation in this study requires 2 visits to the UNLV Shadow Lane Campus OT Skills Lab located at 1125 Shadow Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89102. Visits will require no more than 60 minutes of the participant's time and involve kinesiology tape applications, quick performance measures, and questionnaires. This study follows a randomized controlled crossover design with 2 study arms: red KT and skin tone KT. Each intervention will be applied once and separated by a washout period which will be at least 1 week. Participants will be randomly assigned to either group X or group Y, indicating their sequence of receiving the two treatments. Group X would receive red KT then skin tone KT while group Y would receive skin tone KT then red KT. This will be done by having the participant select an envelope containing one of the two group assignments.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2024
• First Posted: January 3, 2025
• Study Start: January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 30, 2025
• Study Completion: April 30, 2025
• Last Updated: January 3, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)