Three precut KT I strips with a width of 5 cm were used. The first strip is applied with the subject's wrist in fully extended hand position. Middle and ring fingers through the holes with the base of the tape as anchored to the knuckles, and then the tape was applied with 15%-25% tension covering the palm and the wrist, and the remainder of the tape without any tension from the wrist up to the forearm. The same process is repeated for the second I-strip, which was applied from the dorsum of the hand to wrist while the wrist in a downward flexed position. The final strip was applied to the carpal tunnel region with 25%-35% tension.

A portable TENS unit (Gem-Stim, Gemore Technology Co., LTD. Taiwan) was used, and delivered a bi-phasic symmetric waveform at a continuous frequency of 100 Hz and phase duration of 200 µsec. The intensity was gradually adjusted up to a strong but comfortable l level, as reported by the subject. Two electrodes were placed 2 cm apart, respectively attached to the carpal ligament of the affected side and the proximal end along the direction of the median nerve.

Assess symptoms and functional status. The SSS subscale includes 11 items assessing pain, paresthesia, numbness, weakness, nocturnal symptoms and over-all functional status. The FSS subscale includes 8 items assessing the hand function during common daily activities. Each item is scored on a 5-point scale (1-5), from 1(no symptoms) to 5 (the worst symptoms) for SSS, and from 1 (no difficulty) to 5 (cannot perform the activity at all) for FSS. The overall SSS and FSS scores are calculated as the mean of the scores for 11 and 8 individual items respectively, such that the higher the score obtained, the worse the SSS or FSS.

pinch strength included palmar, three-jaw chuck, tip, and lateral pinches.

cutaneous sensory perception threshold. The larger the value of distance, the worse the sensory ability.

hand dexterity. The shorter the time, the more dexterity the hand.

pain measurement. 100 mm straight line, with 0 mm on the far left and 100 mm on the far right, 0 mm positions It is not painful, and 100 mm is extremely painful.