Background Lateral epicondylitis is a term describing the clinical condition that causes pain and sensitivity in musculotendinous adhesion sites of the wrist extensor muscles originating from the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, resulting in repetitive stresses due to overuse (1,2).

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis as randomized, prospective, controlled and double blind.

Methods 47 patients (35 women, 12 men) with lateral epicondylitis were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 45.94±10.46 years. Patients were randomized into two groups: active ESWT (n=22) and sham ESWT (n=25). Patients were randomly allocated to receive 1 session per week for 3 weeks of either sham or active ESWT.

Patients were evaluated before the treatment, and at the end of the first week, first month and third month after the last treatment session with Patient-rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire (PRTEE), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain assessment and physical examination of lateral epicondyle of the elbow with special clinical tests.

Results Compared with pretreatment values in ESWT group, significant improvement was observed in all parameters after treatment. At the first week after the therapy significant improvement was observed in sham group but at the first and third month after the therapy no significant difference was found. In comparison of ESWT and sham over 3 months after the treatment, significant improvements were observed in ESWT group in all parameters.

Conclusions there was a significant decrease in pain and a significant improvement in function following ESWT. Although there was a reduction in pain and improvement in function with sham treatment as well, this difference was not as significant as in active group.

References

1. Murrey PM, Ön Kol ve Dirsek. In: Weinstein SL, Buckwalter JA, Alpaslan M (Ç. Ed). Turek Ortopedi İlkeler ve Uygulamaları. Ankara, Güneş 2009; 401–15.

2. Cordasco FA, Parkes JC II. Overuse Injuries of the Elbow. In: Nicholas JA, Hershman EB. The Upper Extremity In Sports Medicine. Missouri, Mosby-Year Book 1995; 317–30.

References

Disclosure of Interest None declared