Dataset on Bilateral Idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Crossover Study of Two Combined Physiotherapeutic Treatment Methods on Chirurgical and Clinical Patients

This data describe a randomized controlled crossover trial of 73 participants with idiopathic bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) who underwent two combined physiotherapeutic treatment methods: myofascial mobilization (IASTM) and stretching; on chirurgical and clinical conditions.

Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: starting with stretching followed by IASTM and starting with IASTM followed by stretching. Then 43 patients underwent surgery on the hand with more severe involvement and physical therapy rehabilitation was started 30 days after for a period of 4 weeks. After the 1-week interval the participants who started with stretching were referred to IASTM and vice versa, following the same previous patterns. The outpatient reassessments took place at 3 to 6 months.

Likewise, for another 30 patients who did not undergo surgery (clinical patients) we followed the same protocol: selected at random into two groups: starting with stretching followed by IASTM or starting with IASTM followed by stretching. Before starting therapy, patients were assessed (baseline). Both stretching and IASTM were performed in two sessions per week over a period of four weeks, according to standardized protocols. After the one-week interval (wash-out 1), outcome measures were collected at time 1. Next, participants who initially performed stretching were referred to IASTM and vice-versa, following the same patterns as before. Assessment at time 2 occurred after a second interval period (wash-out 2), and outpatient reevaluations were done three and six months after time 2.

The sample allocation and the design of the experiment that originated this database are better illustrated in the Flowchart.pdf file.