Effects of Mills Manipulation and Nirschel Exercises in Patients With Lateral Epicondylitis

Effects of Mills Manipulation Versus NIRSCHL Exercises on Pain, Strength and Function in Patients With Lateral Epicondylitis

To find effects of mills manipulation versus NIRSCHL EXERCISES on pain ,strength and function in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Lateral epicondylitis is also known as tennis elbow, an overuse injury that is characterized by pain and tenderness over the lateral epicondyle. The exact etiology has not been well identified, however its commonly associated with repetitive micro trauma from excessive gripping, wrist extension radial deviation or forearm supination. Extensor carpi radialis brevis is the most affected muscle. The aim of this study is to access the effects of mills manipulation versus Nirschl exercises on pain, strength, and function in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

This study will be a Randomized Clinical trial and will be conducted at Pakistan society for rehabilitation of disabled and Mayo Hospital in Lahore. Patients of aged 20-40 years having insidious onset of lateral elbow pain with positive cozens test, Mills test and Maudsley test will be taken. Patients with radial nerve entrapment, cervical radiculopathy and those receiving injections of corticosteroids in last 4 weeks are excluded. The study will include 32 patients randomly divided into two groups A and group B. The study will be completed within the time duration of 10 months after approval of synopsis. Group A will receive mills manipulation while Group B will receive Nirschl exercises. myofascial release therapy will be given to both groups as baseline. both groups will receive 3 sessions per week for 4 weeks (12 sessions), data will be taken by using numeric pain rating scale for pain, hand dynamometer for grip strength and Patient rated tennis elbow evaluation for evaluation of function, at the start of treatment and the end of treatment session. Data will be analysed on SPSS-25.

Key words: lateral epicondylitis, mills manipulation, Nirschl exercises, Patient rated tennis elbow evaluation

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pain on lateral epicondyle of humerus when palpated, in the age group of 40-60 years
• Both male and female are included
• Unilateral symptomatic lateral epicondylitis
• Tenderness over palpation of extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle muscle (ECRB)
• Patients with positive cozens test (resisted wrist extension and radial deviation is painful) ,mills test (passive elbow extension & wrist flexion is painful) and maudsley test(resisted middle finger extension is painful)
• Patients having symptoms of lateral epicondylitis for > 3 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Radial nerve entrapment
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Corticosteroid injection within 4 weeks
• Had received any conservative treatment for lateral epicondylitis in last 4 weeks before entering the study
• Post-surgery patients of lateral epicondylitis
• Radiological findings of extensor tendon calcification