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

Less Pain, More Game: Efficacy of Red Kinesiology Tape on Carpal Tunnel-Like Symptoms and Performance in Esports Gamers

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)

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Kinesiology Tape

Detailed Description

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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Sarah A Taing; Phone Number: 7022727855; Email: taings3@unlv.nevada.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Donnamarie Krause, Ph.D; Phone Number: 7632342532; Email: donnamarie.krause@unlv.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Nevada
    • Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, 89102
      • Recruiting
      • University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Shadow Lane Campus
      • Contact: Donnamarie Krause, OTD, Ph.D.; Phone Number: 763-234-2532; Email: donnamarie.krause@unlv.edu
      • Contact: Victoria Bernabe; Phone Number: 702-895-1811; Email: mariavictoria.bernabe@unlv.edu
      • Principal Investigator: Donnamarie Krause, OTD, Ph.D.
      • Sub-Investigator: Sarah A Taing

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 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

Exclusion Criteria:

• 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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Red Kinesiology Tape Applied with the Dorsal Application for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; 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 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.
Active Comparator: Skin Tone Kinesiology Tape Applied with the Dorsal Application for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; 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.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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 Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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.	at intervals throughout the 3 week cycle

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
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.	at the last visit of the 3-week study cycle

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Donnamarie Krause, Ph.D, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• 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.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): January 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 9, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 30, 2024
• Last Verified: December 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Performance; Kinesio Tape; Esports; Kinesiology Tape; Gamers; Carapl Tunnel Syndrome; First Person Shooter; Red; Color Theory; Dorsal Application
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Nervous System Diseases; Wounds and Injuries; Neuromuscular Diseases; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases; Median Neuropathy; Mononeuropathies; Nerve Compression Syndromes; Cumulative Trauma Disorders; Sprains and Strains; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: UNLV-2024-431

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No