Epicondylitis, Pain, Tendinopathy
Conditions
Keywords
epicondylitis, pain, tendon
Brief summary
A number of different therapeutic approaches to treat lateral epicondylitis have been tested partly in randomized trials, such as polidocanol sclerosing injections, botulinom toxin A injections, braces, surgery and topical NO patches. One study indicates that patients with lateral epicondylitis (lateral elbow tendinopathy) have poorer elbow proprioception in contrast to healthy controls (Juul-Kristensen B, et al., J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2008;17(1 Suppl):72S-81S.) Based on a suggested poorer elbow proprioception in lateral elbow tendinopathy, The investigators hypothesize that a dedicated proprioceptive intervention might be able to reduce pain and improve function. As such a RCT is planned with two intervention arms with proprioceptive training using the Flexi-Bar vibration device (www.flexi-bar.co.uk) +/- the XCO-Trainer (www.xco-trainer.co.uk) over twelve weeks.
Detailed description
The investigators sought to evaluate the clinical effects of either a vibration training using the Flexi-Bar vibration device (www.flexi-bar.co.uk) +/- the XCO-Trainer (www.xco-trainer.co.uk) in a randomized trial among patients suffering lateral elbow tendinopathy (lateral epicondylitis). Primary outcome measure of this clinical trial is pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS 0-10) before and after 12 weeks of training. Secondary outcome parameters involve DASH score before and after, grip strength (JAMAR), vibration and two-point discrimination (mm).
Interventions
DEVICEFlexi-Bar vibration device only
daily vibration training 10min twice
DEVICEFlexi-Bar + XCO-Trainer
XCO-Trainer is a way to overload the cardiovascular system and the core muscles during running. An oscillating mass inside the XCO-Trainer is activated when the XCO is propelled forward and backward with force. The movement of the mass triggers a series of responses from the runners' body. In addition Flexi-Bar vibration training as in the referred active comparator group
Sponsors
Hannover Medical School
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* lateral elbow tendinopathy * informed consent * ability to run at least 40-60min per week with a XCO-Trainer device
Exclusion criteria
* other sources of lateral elbow pain (joint instabilities, fractures) * no consent * no ability to run at least 40-60min per week using a XCO-Trainer device
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pain on a visual analogue scale (VAS 0-10) | before and 12 weeks after | Pain on VAS (0=no pain at all, 10= worst pain imaginable) before and 12 weeks after the intervention. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Grip strength (JAMAR) | before and after 12 weeks | Grip strength (JAMAR) in two elbow positions (0° flexion, 90° flexion) before and after 12 weeks of intervention |
| DASH Score | before and 12 weeks after | DASH score (0=no impairment, 100=severe impairment) of daily activities |
| Vibration | before and 12 weeks after | Vibration using a 128Hz tuning fork before and 12 weeks after the intervention |
| 2-point discrimination | before and 12 weeks after the intervention | 2-point discrimination (mm) before and after the intervention and the finger tips |
Countries
Germany
Contacts
Primary ContactKarsten Knobloch, FACS, MD, PhD
Outcome results
None listed