Non-Surgical Treatment Approaches in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Lateral Epicondylitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Non-Surgical Treatment Approaches in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Lateral Epicondylitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is a painful musculoskeletal condition, which is considered to be due to overuse, over-stress or over-exertion of the wrist extensors of the forearm, especially extensor carpi radialis brevi.

The aim of this study is to The compare the short-term effects of different physiotherapy approaches on pain, function and grip strength in the rehabilitation of patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is a painful musculoskeletal condition, which is considered to be due to overuse, over-stress or over-exertion of the wrist extensors of the forearm, especially extensor carpi radialis brevi. Different treatment approaches are described in the literature. The primary aim of the treatment approaches are decrease the pain and improve the functional level in patients with lateral epicondylitis. Thus, decreasing pain and regaining the functional performance in the daily living activity is essential in early diagnosed patients.

The aim of this study is to compare the short-term effects of different treatment approaches on pain, function and grip strength in the rehabilitation of patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosed with tennis elbow,
• and the duration of symptoms was between 8 and 10 weeks,
• and pain over the lateral epicondyle, pain during grip strength testing, and pain with one of the following tests: extensor carpi radialis test (i.e., resisted middle-finger extension), resisted wrist extension, or passive stretch of the wrist extensors.
• Furthermore, the participants had to agree to abstain from any other form of treatment during their involvement in this study

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with inflammatory, autoimmune, endocrine or kidney diseases, cubital tunnel syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, radiculopathies due to cervical disc pathologies, additional shoulder-hand-wrist pathologies, inflammatory arthritis, upper extremity operations or traumas,
• allergies to adhesive tape,
• and the patients who received corticosteroid injection due to lateral epicondylitis within the last 3 months