Effect of Kinesiotaping on Tremor in People With Parkinson's Disease

Resting tremor is one of the main motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease and can significantly limit daily activities, fine motor skills, and upper-extremity function. This clinical trial is designed to evaluate whether adding therapeutic kinesiotaping to a home-based exercise program can reduce hand tremor and improve hand function. The study also aims to compare the effectiveness of true kinesiotaping with sham (placebo) taping and to determine whether either method provides additional benefit beyond exercise alone.

This randomized, controlled, three-arm clinical trial will include participants aged 18 to 80 years who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and experience hand tremor. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) Kinesiotaping + Exercise, (2) Sham Taping + Exercise, or (3) Exercise Only. All participants will receive a standardized home-exercise program that includes strengthening and stretching exercises targeting forearm muscles. The exercise program will be performed once daily for four weeks.

In the kinesiotaping group, therapeutic taping will be applied to the forearm extensor muscles and wrist using functional taping techniques with appropriate tension and directional application. This approach aims to enhance proprioceptive input, improve muscle activation, and reduce tremor amplitude. In the sham taping group, tape will be applied without therapeutic tension and without following muscle-fiber orientation, providing a placebo intervention. The control group will receive the exercise program only, without any taping.

Tremor severity and frequency will be assessed using accelerometer data from an Apple Watch worn on the affected wrist. Grip strength will be measured with a Jamar dynamometer, and hand dexterity will be evaluated using the Nine Hole Peg Test. Motor symptoms will be assessed with the MDS-UPDRS Part 3, and quality of life will be evaluated using the Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39). Outcomes will be measured at baseline (T0), at the end of the 4-week intervention (T1), and two weeks after the end of treatment (T2).

The primary objective of this study is to determine whether kinesiotaping provides additional benefit in reducing hand tremor compared with exercise alone. Secondary objectives include evaluating improvements in hand function, changes in grip strength, changes in motor symptoms, and improvements in quality-of-life measures. Kinesiotaping is expected to support tremor control by enhancing proprioceptive feedback. The sham taping group is included to control for placebo effects and to distinguish the specific therapeutic contribution of true kinesiotaping.

This study aims to provide clinical evidence on the usefulness of kinesiotaping as an adjunct to exercise for managing tremor in individuals with Parkinson's disease. The three-arm design will allow clear comparison between true taping, sham taping, and exercise alone, helping to identify the unique effects of kinesiotaping.

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease
• Hoehn and Yahr stage 1-4
• Presence of hand tremor
• Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score ≥ 23
• Stable medical treatment for at least 3 months prior to enrollment and no planned changes during the study period
• Age between 18 and 80 years
• Ability to understand and provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of essential tremor or tremor due to causes other than Parkinson's disease
• Advanced motor impairment (severe bradykinesia or dyskinesia)
• History of allergic reaction to kinesiotaping materials
• Presence of other neurological disorders causing tremor (e.g., ALS, multiple sclerosis, cerebellar disorders)
• Severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression, psychosis, severe anxiety)