Your privacy, your choice

We use essential cookies to make sure the site can function. We also use optional cookies for advertising, personalisation of content, usage analysis, and social media.

By accepting optional cookies, you consent to the processing of your personal data - including transfers to third parties. Some third parties are outside of the European Economic Area, with varying standards of data protection.

See our privacy policy for more information on the use of your personal data.

for further information and to change your choices.

Skip to main content

Table 1 Characteristics of included articles

From: Meta-analysis on effects of lymphatic drainage techniques in the management of carpal tunnel syndrome

Study

Population

Intervention

Design

Instruments

Follow-up Duration (weeks)

Treatment time

Sessions number

Session’s duration

Control group

Experimental group

Kablan et al., Turkey (2025) [11]

N: 27

Age*: 48.9 ± 9.9

N: 27

Age: 48.9 ± 9.9

MLD

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, CSA, HG, MNC, PPT, VAS

6

6 weeks

12

40 min

Leblebicier et al., Turkey (2025) [12]

N: 18

Age: 47.9 ± 7.7

N: 16

Age: 52.7 ± 6.7

MLD

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, MNC, Tinel’s sign, Phalen’s sign, PPT, VAS

4

4 weeks

20

15 min

Chen et al., Taiwan (2024) [13]

N: 18

Age: 47.2 ± 3.17

N: 19

Age: 49.8 ± 8.47

KT

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, MNC, VAS

6

6 weeks

12

2 days

Cihan et al., Turkey (2024) [14]

N: 27

Age: 48.15 ± 7.40

N: 27

Age: 50.30 ± 7.08

MLD

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, CSA, Tinel’s sign, Phalen’s sign

4

4 weeks

20

20 min

Unal et al., Turkey (2024) [15]

N: 13

Age: 52.69 ± 8.61

N: 14

Age: 48.71 ± 10.80

KT

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, CSA, MNC, VAS

3

3 weeks

3

5 days

Movaghar et al.**, Iran (2023) [16]

N: 15

Age: 27.6 ± 3.08

N: 15

Age: 27.47 ± 3.94

KT

Cupping

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, CSA, VAS

4

4 weeks

7

3 days

Ayhan et al., Turkey (2019) [17]

N: N/A

Age: N/A

N: 41

Age: 56.05 ± 8.16

CDT

Quasi-experimental

CSA, DN4, MNC, Quality of life, Q-DASH, Lymphedema volume

3

3 weeks

15

2 h

Güner et al., Turkey (2018) [18]

N: 13

Age: 44.33 ± 9.21

N: 11

Age: 47.71 ± 4.97

KT

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, HG, MNC, Pinch, VAS

3 & 12

3 weeks

10

2 days

Kaplan et al., Turkey (2018) [19]

N: 32

Age: 42.3 ± 9.8

N: 33

Age: 43.1 ± 9.2

KT

RCT

CSA, VAS

3 & 12

3 weeks

6

3.5 days

Yildirim et al., Turkey (2018) [20]

N: 10

Age: 48.70 ± 7.61

N: 11

Age: 48.81 ± 6.40

KT

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, CSA, DN4, HG, Moberg, Pinch, VAS

3 & 6

6 weeks

3

N/A

Geler et al., Turkey (2015) [21]

N: 20

Age: 48.95 ± 6.0

N: 20

Age: 49.8 ± 11.5

KT

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, DN4, HG, VAS

4

4 weeks

4

5 days

Karpuz et al., Turkey (2015) [22]

N: 26

Age: 49.2 ± 10.4

N: 26

Age: 47 ± 10.4

KT

RCT

BSSS, BFSS, CSA, HG, PSQI, VAS

4

4 weeks

8

N/A

  1. BSSS: Boston symptom severity scale, BFSS: Boston functional status scale, CDT: Complex decongestive therapy, CSA: Median cross-sectional are, DN4: Douleur neuropathique 4 questionnaire, HG: Hand grip, KT: Kinesio Taping, MLD: Manual lymphatic drainage, MNC: Median nerve conduction, N: Number, PPT: Pain pressure threshold, PSQI: Pittsburgh sleep quality index, Q-DASH: Quick disabilities of arm, shoulder & hand, RCT: Randomized control trial, VAS: Visual analogue scale
  2. *: Mean ± SD; **: Movaghar et al. study included two experimental group (KT and cupping); cupping group population features were mentioned in the control group section