Thoracic Outlet SyndromeNCT07750184
Immediate Effects of Kinesio Taping on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
A study testing Kinesio Taping in people with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, run by Hacettepe University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the immediate effects of Kinesio Taping compared with sham taping in adults with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). The study aims to determine whether a single application of Kinesio Taping provides greater improvements in symptom severity, grip strength, and hand dexterity… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 45 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Kinesio Taping
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 32 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Sep 2026to Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 45 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Clinical diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) confirmed by a thoracic surgeon.
- Presence of symptoms consistent with TOS.
- Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
Who cannot join
- History of fracture or surgery involving the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand that could affect upper-extremity function.
- Neurological disorders affecting upper-extremity function (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy unrelated to TOS).
- Other upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders that may influence grip strength or hand dexterity (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis).
- Skin lesions, allergy to adhesive tape, or any dermatological condition preventing tape application.
- Pregnancy.
- Inability to perform the assessment procedures.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Sivas Cumhuriyet University
Merkez, Sivas, 58140
Feray Karademir, 05053137582
About this study
Official title: Immediate Effects of Kinesio Taping on Symptoms, Grip Strength, and Hand Dexterity in Patients With Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the immediate effects of Kinesio Taping compared with sham taping in adults with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). The study aims to determine whether a single application of Kinesio Taping provides greater improvements in symptom severity, grip strength, and hand dexterity than sham taping. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does a single application of Kinesio Taping reduce symptom severity and improve tolerance to the Roos test compared with sham taping? Does a single application of Kinesio Taping improve grip strength and hand dexterity compared with sham taping? Researchers will compare participants receiving Kinesio Taping with those receiving sham taping to determine whether the observed effects are attributable to the therapeutic application of Kinesio Taping rather than nonspecific or placebo effects.
Read more
Participants will:
- undergo baseline assessments of symptom severity during the Roos test, Roos test completion time, grip strength, and hand dexterity;
- be randomly assigned to receive either Kinesio Taping or sham taping;
- undergo immediate post-intervention assessments using the same outcome measures.
Read the detailed description
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is a neurovascular entrapment disorder caused by compression of the brachial plexus and/or subclavian vessels at the thoracic outlet. Patients commonly experience pain, paresthesia, weakness, and reduced upper-extremity function, leading to impaired performance in daily activities. Conservative treatment is considered the first-line approach for most patients and typically includes postural correction, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and activity modification.
Kinesio Taping (KT) is a non-invasive intervention that has been widely used in musculoskeletal rehabilitation to reduce pain, enhance proprioception, and improve functional performance. Previous studies have reported beneficial effects of KT in several peripheral nerve-related conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylitis with radial nerve involvement, and peripheral neuropathies. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness in patients with TOS remains limited.
To date, only one randomized controlled trial has investigated the effects of KT in patients with TOS, demonstrating improvements in pain, paresthesia, disability, and quality of life. Nevertheless, the immediate effects of KT on objective motor performance outcomes, particularly grip strength and hand dexterity, have not been investigated. Since these outcomes are essential determinants of upper-extremity function and directly influence activities of daily living, addressing this knowledge gap may provide clinically relevant evidence for rehabilitation practice.
This randomized, sham-controlled trial is designed to investigate the immediate effects of a single KT application on symptom severity, response to the Roos test, grip strength, and hand dexterity in patients with TOS. The findings are expected to clarify whether KT produces immediate functional benefits beyond placebo effects and to provide evidence for its role as an adjunctive intervention in the conservative management of TOS.
- Conditions
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Being tested
- Kinesio Taping, sham taping- not therapeutic
- Keywords
- thoracic outlet syndrome, taping, strength, pain, hand dexterity
- Medical subject headings
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Kinesio TapingDevice
A single application of therapeutic Kinesio Taping will be performed according to a standardized protocol by an experienced physiotherapist.
sham taping- not therapeuticOther
A single application of sham taping will be performed according to a standardized protocol by an experienced physiotherapist.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| SHAM GROUP | Sham comparator | Participants will receive a single application of sham taping according to a standardized protocol. Outcome measures will be assessed before and immediately after taping. Receives: Other: sham taping- not therapeutic |
| KT GROUP | Experimental | A single application of therapeutic Kinesio Taping will be performed according to a standardized protocol by an experienced physiotherapist. Receives: Device: Kinesio Taping |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Grip strength
Grip strength will be measured using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. The change from baseline to immediately after the intervention will be compared between groups.
Measured: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention
Secondary outcomes (1)
Hand dexterity
Hand dexterity will be assessed using the Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test. The change from baseline to immediately after the intervention will be compared between the Kinesio Taping and sham taping groups.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after taping
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Aug 2026
- Study start1 Sep 2026
- Primary completionOct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Thoracic Outlet SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Hacettepe UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly allocated using a computer-generated randomization sequence in a 1:1 ratio to either the Kinesio Taping group or the sham taping group. All outcome measures will be evaluated at baseline and immediately after the intervention.
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Hacettepe University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Feray Karademir, Hacettepe University
- Investigators
- FERAY KARADEMİR, PhD, Principal investigator, Cumhuriyet University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07750184
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 24915
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: there is no plan to make individual participant data (IPD) available to other researchers.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Immediate Effects of Kinesio Taping on Symptoms, Grip Strength, and Hand Dexterity in Patients With Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07750184
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 24915
- Conditions
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
- Keywords
- thoracic outlet syndrome, taping, strength, pain, hand dexterity
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 32 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Hacettepe UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 6 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the immediate effects of Kinesio Taping compared with sham taping in adults with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS). The study aims to determine whether a single application of Kinesio Taping provides greater improvements in symptom severity, grip strength, and hand dexterity than sham taping. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does a single application of Kinesio Taping reduce symptom severity and improve tolerance to the Roos test compared with sham taping? Does a single application of Kinesio Taping improve grip strength and hand dexterity compared with sham taping? Researchers will compare participants receiving Kinesio Taping with those receiving sham taping to determine whether the observed effects are attributable to the therapeutic application of Kinesio Taping rather than nonspecific or placebo effects.
Participants will:
- undergo baseline assessments of symptom severity during the Roos test, Roos test completion time, grip strength, and hand dexterity;
- be randomly assigned to receive either Kinesio Taping or sham taping;
- undergo immediate post-intervention assessments using the same outcome measures.
Detailed description
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) is a neurovascular entrapment disorder caused by compression of the brachial plexus and/or subclavian vessels at the thoracic outlet. Patients commonly experience pain, paresthesia, weakness, and reduced upper-extremity function, leading to impaired performance in daily activities. Conservative treatment is considered the first-line approach for most patients and typically includes postural correction, therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, and activity modification.
Kinesio Taping (KT) is a non-invasive intervention that has been widely used in musculoskeletal rehabilitation to reduce pain, enhance proprioception, and improve functional performance. Previous studies have reported beneficial effects of KT in several peripheral nerve-related conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, lateral epicondylitis with radial nerve involvement, and peripheral neuropathies. However, evidence regarding its effectiveness in patients with TOS remains limited.
To date, only one randomized controlled trial has investigated the effects of KT in patients with TOS, demonstrating improvements in pain, paresthesia, disability, and quality of life. Nevertheless, the immediate effects of KT on objective motor performance outcomes, particularly grip strength and hand dexterity, have not been investigated. Since these outcomes are essential determinants of upper-extremity function and directly influence activities of daily living, addressing this knowledge gap may provide clinically relevant evidence for rehabilitation practice.
This randomized, sham-controlled trial is designed to investigate the immediate effects of a single KT application on symptom severity, response to the Roos test, grip strength, and hand dexterity in patients with TOS. The findings are expected to clarify whether KT produces immediate functional benefits beyond placebo effects and to provide evidence for its role as an adjunctive intervention in the conservative management of TOS.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be randomly allocated using a computer-generated randomization sequence in a 1:1 ratio to either the Kinesio Taping group or the sham taping group. All outcome measures will be evaluated at baseline and immediately after the intervention.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| SHAM GROUP | Sham comparator | Other: sham taping- not therapeuticParticipants will receive a single application of sham taping according to a standardized protocol. Outcome measures will be assessed before and immediately after taping. |
| KT GROUP | Experimental | Device: Kinesio TapingA single application of therapeutic Kinesio Taping will be performed according to a standardized protocol by an experienced physiotherapist. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 45 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Clinical diagnosis of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) confirmed by a thoracic surgeon.
- Presence of symptoms consistent with TOS.
- Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- History of fracture or surgery involving the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand that could affect upper-extremity function.
- Neurological disorders affecting upper-extremity function (e.g., stroke, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy unrelated to TOS).
- Other upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders that may influence grip strength or hand dexterity (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger, thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis).
- Skin lesions, allergy to adhesive tape, or any dermatological condition preventing tape application.
- Pregnancy.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Kinesio TapingA single application of therapeutic Kinesio Taping will be performed according to a standardized protocol by an experienced physiotherapist. | Device | KT GROUP |
| sham taping- not therapeuticA single application of sham taping will be performed according to a standardized protocol by an experienced physiotherapist. | Other | SHAM GROUP |
Primary outcome
Grip strength
Time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention
Grip strength will be measured using a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer. The change from baseline to immediately after the intervention will be compared between groups.
1 secondary outcome
Hand dexterity
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after taping
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. there is no plan to make individual participant data (IPD) available to other researchers.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
FERAY KARADEMİR, PhD principal investigator
Cumhuriyet University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Kinesio Taping in people with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, run by Hacettepe University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact FERAY KARADEMİR, PhD (+905053137582, karademirferay@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Grip strength (time frame: Immediately before and immediately after the intervention). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Sep 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 8 Nov 2026.