Efficacy of Dorsal Application of KT for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in Esport Gamers: A Randomized Clinical Trial

This doctoral study investigated the impact of the dorsal application of kinesiotape on carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms and performance among Esport gamers. The study was conducted in controlled environments at the UNLV Esports Lounge, Black Fire Innovation, and the Musculoskeletal Lab using a randomized two-group pretest-posttest design. To maintain ecological validity, participants were permitted to use personally owned gaming peripherals (e.g., computer mouse), and all received brief instruction on proper body mechanics to promote consistency during testing. Participants (n = 11) were systematically assigned by order of registration to either an intervention group receiving dorsal application of kinesiotape on the dominant wrist or to a control group receiving kinesiotape on the spine of the scapula. Participants were recruited from both the UNLV gaming community and the broader Las Vegas gaming community.Participants were seen over a four-day period for the intervention, which included performance testing using Kovaak’s Aim Trainer during Sessions 1 and 4, conducted both with and without kinesiotape applied. Kovaak’s provided objective performance metrics accuracy, reaction time, and speed across tasks such as tracking, flicking, and strafing. On Sessions 2 and 3, participants returned for kinesiotape reapplication and completed a series of Qualtrics surveys, including a demographic questionnaire, the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire Symptom Severity Scale (BCTQ-SSS), and a KT Feedback Form. While the primary focus was on objective performance and symptom severity data, the subjective responses offered additional context regarding participants' comfort and perceived effects of the kinesiotape. This study contributes to the growing body of research on non-invasive interventions for managing repetitive strain symptoms in gaming populations.