Investigation of the Effectiveness of Kinesiological Taping in Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Kinesio taping at the level of the cubital tunnel on the elbow

All patients will be provided with information and an exercise sheet containing pictures on ulnar nerve gliding exercises. To monitor whether patients are performing the exercises correctly, they will be asked to come to the hospital once a week, where they will perform the exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist. In the exercise program, different positions will be held for 30 seconds, with a 1-minute rest between them, and the exercises will be performed twice a day .

It will be applied in the same way as kinesiological taping with adhesive tape.

Description: To demonstrate that kinesiological taping will result in a reduction of pain intensity associated with Cubital Tunnel Syndrome, as measured by the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) ranging from 0 to 10.

The measurements will be taken with the patient in a supine position, the affected arm in shoulder abduction and external rotation, and the elbow flexed at 70°-90°. After applying a generous amount of gel, the lateral edge of the ultrasound probe will be placed on the medial epicondyle, and the medial edge of the probe will be positioned on the olecranon; the ulnar nerve will be directly examined in the retroepicondylar groove. Once the nerve is visualized, the widest point will be identified, and cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements will be taken with the probe perpendicular to the nerve at the center of the screen . The measurements will be repeated twice, and the average will be calculated.

The DN4 questionnaire consists of two main sections and a total of ten questions. The first section includes seven questions related to pain characteristics and sensory information obtained through patient interview. These questions are about burning, electric shocks, coldness, tingling, pricking, numbness, and itching. The second section contains three statements related to physical examination (touch hypoesthesia, pinprick hypoesthesia, and allodynia). For each statement, "yes" or "no" responses are given. A score of "1" is assigned for "yes" answers and "0" for "no" answers, and the scores are summed. A total score of 4 or more out of 12 is interpreted as neuropathic pain.

The SF-12 Quality of Life Scale is a short form of the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale. While the SF-36 is used for chronic conditions (states), the SF-12 is used for short-term assessments (clinical findings). Similarly, it is also used to gather information about the patient's general health status. The SF-12 provides the same summary component scores as the SF-36, but with fewer items, making it a significant advantage due to its shorter application time. The scale asks the patient about their health opinions, how they feel, and how easily they can perform their usual activities. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

QUICK-DASH (Shoulder, Arm, and Hand Problems Questionnaire): This questionnaire assesses both the ability to perform certain physical activities as well as the symptoms of the disease. Each question is answered based on the condition of the past week, and the appropriate score is marked. The answer is given based solely on the ability to perform the physical activity, without considering which hand or arm is injured. Scoring: 1. = No difficulty 2. = Mild difficulty 3. = Moderate difficulty 4. = Severe difficulty 5. = Unable to perform QUICK DASH DISABILITY/SYMPTOM SCORE: (\[(n total score\] - 1) x 25; where n represents the number of questions answered. If more than one question is unanswered, the Quick DASH score cannot be calculated. SCORE FOR OPTIONAL MODELS: For each model, divide the total score by 4, subtract 1, and multiply by 25. If more than one question is unanswered, the score for optional models cannot be calculated. Based on the results of the questionnaire, a score b

Grip strength will be measured using a hand dynamometer, with the average of three measurements taken, each followed by a 30-second rest period.