Award Date

5-15-2026

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Department

Brain Health

First Committee Member

Sharon Jalene

Number of Pages

128

Abstract

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common upper-extremity condition among university students who frequently engage in prolonged computer and device use. CTS symptoms, specifically in nocturnal pain, tingling, and numbness, often disrupt sleep quality, which can lead to negative effects on daytime functioning and participation in meaningful occupations. Despite growing interest in conservative management strategies, there is limited research on the potential role of kinesiotape (KT) in addressing sleep-related symptoms of CTS. This study aims to examine changes in sleep quality, nocturnal symptoms severity, and participation in meaningful activities in university students experiencing mild to moderate CTS symptoms. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling from the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) institutions. A single-group pretest-posttest explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used. Participants completed the Boston Capral Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at baseline and after the completion of 6 sessions with KT intervention. Daily sleep diaries were collected to provide qualitative and quantitative insight into nighttime comfort and symptom patterns. Preliminary findings suggest that KT may improve sleep quality and reduce nocturnal CTS symptoms by supporting daytime function. This study contributes to early evidence supporting KT as a feasible, noninvasive approach to managing nocturnal CTS symptoms in university students. Further research with a larger sample and controlled designs strengthens the understanding of KT’s role in sleep within occupational therapy interventions.

Keywords

carpal tunnel syndrome; CTS symptoms; kinesiotape; nocturnal CTS; sleep; sleep quality

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Occupational Therapy | Rehabilitation and Therapy

File Format

PDF

File Size

10200 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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