Lateral Epicondylitis, Tennis Elbow
Conditions
Keywords
Physiotherapy, Kinesiotaping, Wrist Rest Splint, Tennis Elbow, Lateral Epicondylitis
Brief summary
This study aimed to compare the efficacy of physiotherapy alone (PTA), Kinesiotaping (KT) combined with physiotherapy (KTPT), and wrist rest splint combined with physiotherapy (PTWJRS) treatments for the treatment of LE
Interventions
A 15-session program (5 days a week) consisting of ultrasound (1.5 W/cm2, 1 MHz for 3 min), TENS (15 min), cold pack (15 min), eccentric strengthening exercises for wrist extensors, and deep friction massage (5 min).
DEVICEKinesiotaping (KT)
Applied at the end of each PT session using forearm muscle inhibition and fascia correction techniques. Tapes remained on the elbow for approximately 345 hours in total.
DEVICEWrist Joint Rest Splint
Used 6-8 hours a day during the 15-session program. Fixed at a 5° to 10° extension to reduce loading stress.
Sponsors
Medipol University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
To minimize detection bias, the researcher responsible for recording and evaluating the pre-treatment and post-treatment clinical assessments was blinded to the patients' group assignments.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Patients applying with complaints of elbow pain lasting more than 3 months. * Diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis based on tenderness/pain on the lateral humeral epicondyle region. * Pain aggravated by passive stretching of the wrist extensors (Mill's test) or resisted extension of the middle finger (Maudley's test). * Pain, limited active ROM at the wrist joint, and hand grip weakness.
Exclusion criteria
* Inflammatory/infectious joint disease, cubital tunnel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder/hand/wrist pathologies. * Radiculopathy, fibromyalgia, psychiatric/neurological disease, history of malignancy. * Cervical trauma, surgery, or upper extremity trauma. * Adhesive tape allergy. * Received corticosteroid injections for LE within the previous 3 months or PT for the elbow within the previous 6 months. * Used oral or topical NSAIDs or received other treatments for LE in the previous 3 months or during the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Pain Intensity (VAS) | Baseline and at the end of the 15-session treatment program (approximately 3 weeks) | Pain intensity was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 10. Higher scores indicate greater pain severity, representing a worse clinical outcome. |
| Change in Grip Strength Measured by Hand Dynamometer | Baseline and at the end of the 15-session treatment program (approximately 3 weeks) | Painless and maximum grip strengths were evaluated using a hand dynamometer. The measurements are recorded in kilograms (kg). Higher values indicate greater grip strength, representing better physical function and a better clinical outcome. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) Score | Baseline and at the end of the 15-session treatment program (approximately 3 weeks) | Tennis elbow symptoms and functional limitations were evaluated using the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaire. The total score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100. Higher scores indicate greater pain and functional disability, representing a worse clinical outcome. |
| Change in QuickDASH (Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) Score | Baseline and at the end of the 15-session treatment program (approximately 3 weeks) | Upper extremity disability and symptoms were evaluated using the Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (QuickDASH) questionnaire. The total score ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 100. Higher scores indicate greater upper extremity disability and symptom severity, representing a worse clinical outcome. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed