Effect of Kinesiotaping on Tremor in People With Parkinson's Disease

NCT07555847 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: PD-KT-RCT-2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether adding kinesiotaping to a strengthening and stretching home-exercise program can reduce hand tremor and improve hand function in people with Parkinson's disease. The study will also examine how true kinesiotaping compares with sham (placebo) taping and with exercise alone in improving tremor frequency, grip strength, fine motor skills, motor symptoms, daily living activities, and quality of life. Adults aged 18-80 with Parkinson's disease and hand tremor will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: Kinesiotaping + Exercise Group: Participants will receive therapeutic kinesiotaping applied to the forearm extensor muscles and wrist for 4 weeks (twice weekly), in addition to a home program of strengthening and stretching exercises. Sham Taping + Exercise Group: Participants will receive a placebo taping without tension that does not target specific muscles, along with the same exercise program. Exercise-Only Group: Participants will complete the same home-exercise program without any taping. Researchers will compare the three groups to see whether kinesiotaping provides additional benefits beyond exercise and whether it performs better than sham taping. Tremor frequency will be measured using an Apple Watch device, and hand strength, dexterity, motor symptoms, and quality of life will be assessed using validated clinical scales.

Conditions

PARKINSON DISEASE (Disorder); Tremor; Tremor Associated With Tremor Dominant Parkinson's Disease

Keywords

Kinesiotaping; Kinesiologic taping; Parkinson tremor; Hand tremor; Upper extremity tremor; Forearm extensor taping; Sham taping; Exercise therapy; Home exercise program; MDS-UPDRS; PDQ-39; Nine Hole Peg Test; Grip strength; Apple Watch; tremor measurement

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Tremor Frequency (Hz)

  Change in dominant tremor frequency measured using Apple Watch sensors (accelerometer and gyroscope) during a standardized 60-second recording period. Lower frequency values indicate improvement in tremor severity.

  Baseline (Day 0), End of treatment (Week 4), and Follow-up (Week 8; 4 weeks after treatment completion)

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Hand Grip Strength (kg)

  Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0), End of treatment (Week 4), and Follow-up (Week 8; 4 weeks after treatment completion)

• Pinch Strength (kg)

  Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0), End of treatment (Week 4), and Follow-up (Week 8; 4 weeks after treatment completion)

• Fahn-Tolosa-Marin Tremor Rating Scale Score

  Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0), End of treatment (Week 4), and Follow-up (Week 8; 4 weeks after treatment completion)

• Nine-Hole Peg Test

  Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0), End of treatment (Week 4), and Follow-up (Week 8; 4 weeks after treatment completion)

• MDS-UPDRS Part III Score

  Time Frame: Baseline (Day 0), End of treatment (Week 4), and Follow-up (Week 8; 4 weeks after treatment completion)

Study Arms (3)

Kinesiotaping + Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive therapeutic kinesiotaping applied to the forearm extensor muscles and wrist twice weekly for 4 weeks, in addition to a daily home-based strengthening and stretching exercise program.

Other: Therapeutic Kinesiotaping; Behavioral: Home Exercise Program

Sham Taping + Exercise

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants receive sham taping without therapeutic tension and without following muscle-fiber orientation, applied twice weekly for 4 weeks, along with the same daily home-based exercise program

Other: Sham Taping; Behavioral: Home Exercise Program

Exercise Only

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants complete the standardized daily home-based strengthening and stretching exercise program for 4 weeks, with no taping applied

Behavioral: Home Exercise Program

Interventions

Therapeutic Kinesiotaping OTHER

Kinesiotaping applied to forearm extensor muscles with therapeutic tension and direction, twice weekly for 4 weeks

Kinesiotaping + Exercise

Sham Taping OTHER

Placebo taping applied without therapeutic tension and without muscle alignment, twice weekly for 4 weeks

Sham Taping + Exercise

Home Exercise Program BEHAVIORAL

Daily strengthening and stretching exercises targeting forearm muscles, performed for 4 weeks.

Exercise Only; Kinesiotaping + Exercise; Sham Taping + Exercise

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease
• Hoehn and Yahr stage 1-4
• Presence of hand tremor
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 23
• Stable medical treatment for at least 3 months prior to enrollment and no planned changes during the study period
• Age between 18 and 80 years
• Ability to understand and provide written informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Diagnosis of essential tremor or tremor due to causes other than Parkinson's disease
• Advanced motor impairment (severe bradykinesia or dyskinesia)
• History of allergic reaction to kinesiotaping materials
• Presence of other neurological disorders causing tremor (e.g., ALS, multiple sclerosis, cerebellar disorders)
• Severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression, psychosis, severe anxiety)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Sultan Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Health Sciences, Sultan 2. Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital

Istanbul, Uskudar, 34668, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (6)

• Giray E, Karali-Bingul D, Akyuz G. The Effectiveness of Kinesiotaping, Sham Taping or Exercises Only in Lateral Epicondylitis Treatment: A Randomized Controlled Study. PM R. 2019 Jul;11(7):681-693. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12067. Epub 2019 Mar 28.

  PMID: 30609278 BACKGROUND

• Dai H, Lin H, Lueth TC. Quantitative assessment of parkinsonian bradykinesia based on an inertial measurement unit. Biomed Eng Online. 2015 Jul 12;14:68. doi: 10.1186/s12938-015-0067-8.

  PMID: 26164814 BACKGROUND

• Shahien M, Elaraby A, Gamal M, Abdelazim E, Abdelazeem B, Ghaith HS, Negida A. Physical therapy interventions for the management of hand tremors in patients with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review. Neurol Sci. 2023 Feb;44(2):461-470. doi: 10.1007/s10072-022-06420-1. Epub 2022 Oct 7.

  PMID: 36205810 BACKGROUND

• Mahadevan N, Demanuele C, Zhang H, Volfson D, Ho B, Erb MK, Patel S. Development of digital biomarkers for resting tremor and bradykinesia using a wrist-worn wearable device. NPJ Digit Med. 2020 Jan 15;3:5. doi: 10.1038/s41746-019-0217-7. eCollection 2020.

  PMID: 31970290 BACKGROUND

• Bravi R, Quarta E, Cohen EJ, Gottard A, Minciacchi D. A little elastic for a better performance: kinesiotaping of the motor effector modulates neural mechanisms for rhythmic movements. Front Syst Neurosci. 2014 Sep 25;8:181. doi: 10.3389/fnsys.2014.00181. eCollection 2014.

  PMID: 25309355 BACKGROUND

• Capecci M, Serpicelli C, Fiorentini L, Censi G, Ferretti M, Orni C, Renzi R, Provinciali L, Ceravolo MG. Postural rehabilitation and Kinesio taping for axial postural disorders in Parkinson's disease. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 Jun;95(6):1067-75. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.01.020. Epub 2014 Feb 5.

  PMID: 24508531 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease; Tremor

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Parkinsonian Disorders; Basal Ganglia Diseases; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Movement Disorders; Synucleinopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Dyskinesias; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Mehmet Akif Guler

  University of Health Sciences, Sultan 2. Abdulhamid Han Training and Research Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants and outcome assessors will be blinded. The care provider applying kinesiotaping cannot be blinded due to the nature of the intervention
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist

Model Details: Three-arm parallel design comparing kinesiotaping plus exercise, sham taping plus exercise, and exercise alone in individuals with Parkinson's disease and hand tremor.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 14, 2026
• First Posted: April 29, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2025
• Study Completion: January 1, 2026
• Last Updated: April 29, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)