The Effects of Taping on Metacarpophalangeal Disorders of the Thumb

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of taping therapy on metacarpophalangeal (MCP) disorders of the thumb. Methods: Twenty eight patients were enrolled in this study. They were randomly assigned to experimental (n=16) or a control group (n=12). The experimental and control groups received Ultrasound (Gymna Pulson 200) operating at a frequency of 3MHz and an intensity of $1.0W/cm^2$ with a 100% duty cycle for 10 minutes. The experimental group received, additionally, taping using Kinesiotape on the injured thumb. The following parameters were measured:pain during rest and flexion of the thumb, tenderness, range of motion (ROM), pinch and spherical grip power pre- and post-treatment. This study was carried out 3 days per week throughout the 2-week treatment. Results: There were significant improvements in pain during rest and flexion of the thumb, tenderness, ROM, pinch and spherical grip power between pre- and post-treatment times in both groups (p<0.05). However, there was a significant difference in all parameters between the experimental and control groups (p<0.05). Finally, the satisfaction level after intervention was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Taping is effective for treating pain and dysfunction in patients with thumb disorders.