Abstract

TOLOSA-GUZMAN, Ingrid A  and  TRILLOS, María Constanza. Physiotherapy Assessment in the Differential Diagnosis Occupational Dystonia. Rev. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2010, vol.8, n.3, pp. 19-35. ISSN 1692-7273.

Introduction: The authors present a proposal for the physiotherapeutic assessment to contribute to differential diagnostic of movement disorders of occupational origin in the hand. With this aim two movement disorders were selected related with repetitive movements: writer's distony and carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods and materials: Through a review of scientific articles, ethological and clinical characteristics for each entity were established as well as the evaluative parameters to be included in the instrument. Results: According with ethologic and clinical differences of this type of disorders, tests such as neural tension for median nerve, provocation test and superficial & cortical sensitivity test and dynamometry allow to determine specific clinical differences for each health condition. Conclusions: This proposal of physiotherapeutic clinical evaluation through this instrument becomes the first approach in physiotherapy to contribute to differential diagnosis of occupational movement disorders between carpal tunnel syndrome and occupational hand's dystonia.

Keywords : occupational dystonia; writer's dystonia; physical therapy assessment; carpal tunnel syndrome.