KINESIOLOGY TAPING AND NEURAL GLIDING EXERCISE IN CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Introduction: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a condition of neuropathy caused by median nerve entrapment,
which is related to repetitive injury mostly due to workload. Some people have occupation that require a lot of
repetitive wrist movement such as cigarette factory workers. Kinesiology taping and neural gliding exercises are
conservative interventions, which can be performed on people with CTS.
Case: This case report showed that there was improvement symptom of carpal tunnel syndrome treated with
kinesiology taping and neural gliding exercise. The patient was female, 43 years old, a cigarette factory worker.
She had complains of tingling sensation on her palms, moreover on finger 1, 2 and 3 since 2 weeks before. The
physical examination revealed positive test of carpal tunnel syndrome such as Phalen, Pressure Provocation and
Tinel test. Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) was also performed. The diagnose was confirmed with
nerve conduction studies result. Kinesiology taping was applied on this patient and reapplied weekly until 4 weeks.
Patient was also taught about neural gliding exercise and was asked to do it every day for 4 weeks. BCTQ was
evaluated weekly and improved every week. While nerve conduction studies was evaluated in 4 weeks and there
was also improvement in the result.
Conclusion: The improved outcome occurring in this case shows that kinesiology taping and neural gliding
exercise can be considered as management of carpal tunnel syndrome, but of course further research is needed to
prove its significance.