Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) often benefits from eccentric training exercises, but combining them with deep friction massage (DFM) might enhance outcomes. Objective: To evaluate if adding DFM to eccentric training improves pain, function, wrist extensor strength, and hand grip strength more than eccentric training alone. Design: A triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial involving 46 participants aged 16-30 with unilateral LE. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either eccentric training plus sham massage (Control Group) or eccentric training plus DFM (Experimental Group) over 4 weeks. Methods: Outcomes will be measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire for function, a hand-held dynamometer for wrist extensor strength, and a grip dynamometer for hand grip strength. Blinding: The study is triple-blinded-assessors, statisticians, and participants are unaware of group allocations. Significance: This study aims to determine if DFM enhances the effectiveness of eccentric training in LE rehabilitation, potentially leading to improved treatment protocols.
Background: Lateral epicondylitis (LE), also known as tennis elbow, is an overuse injury of the elbow characterized by pain and functional impairment in the lateral aspect of the elbow. Traditional management strategies often include eccentric training exercises aimed at improving muscle strength and reducing pain. However, the addition of deep friction massage (DFM) to such a regimen might offer additional benefits. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of combining deep friction massage with eccentric training exercises on pain, functional ability, wrist extensor strength, and hand grip strength in patients with unilateral lateral epicondylitis. Design: A triple-blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be carried out at the outpatient physical therapy clinic of Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt. The trial is designed to assess whether the integration of DFM with eccentric training offers superior outcomes compared to eccentric training alone. Participants: The study will involve 46 patients aged 16 to 30 years, diagnosed with unilateral lateral epicondylitis. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group A (Control) and Group B (Experimental). Inclusion criteria include unilateral elbow pain, a BMI between 18.5 and 29.9, and chronic LE not treated with physical therapy in the past six months. Exclusion criteria include significant injuries or diseases affecting the shoulder, elbow, or wrist, recent local steroid injections, cervical radiculopathy, and neurological impairments. Interventions: Control Group (Group A): Participants will receive eccentric training exercises and sham massage. The eccentric training regimen includes three exercises: eccentric wrist extension with dumbbells, eccentric wrist extension with a twist-bar, and eccentric supination with an elastic band. Sham massage will be used to maintain blinding. Experimental Group (Group B): Participants will receive the same eccentric training exercises as Group A, plus deep friction massage (DFM). DFM will be applied to the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon at the site of the common extensor origin, with firm pressure applied perpendicular to the tendon for 5 minutes before each exercise session. Outcome Measures: Pain: Assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), which allows patients to rate pain intensity on a 100 mm line ranging from \"no pain\" to \"worst pain.\" Function: Evaluated using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire, which includes 30 items measuring both function and symptoms in upper limb activities. Scores range from 0 (no disability) to 100 (severe disability). Wrist Extensor Strength: Measured with a hand-held dynamometer, quantifying the maximum isometric strength of wrist extensors. Hand Grip Strength: Assessed using a Jamar grip dynamometer, recording the maximum grip strength in kilograms. Blinding and Randomization: The study will use a triple-blinding approach. Research assistants conducting assessments will be blinded to group allocations, as will the statisticians analyzing the data. Participants will also be unaware of their group assignment. Randomization will be achieved using an online random number generator to ensure unbiased group assignment. Significance: This study seeks to determine if combining deep friction massage with eccentric training provides additional benefits over eccentric training alone in terms of pain reduction, functional improvement, and strength enhancement in patients with lateral epicondylitis. The results could inform more effective rehabilitation strategies for this common condition.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
46
Exercise 1: Eccentric Wrist Extension with Dumbbell Position: Seated, elbow extended, wrist maximally extended. Action: Lower: Slowly flex the wrist for 30 seconds. Return: Use the opposite hand to bring wrist back to extension. Load: Increase weight based on 10 Repetition Maximum (10RM). Exercise 2: Eccentric Wrist Extension with Twist-Bar Position: Hold Flex Bar with involved hand in extension. Action: Twist: Rotate the bar with the non-involved hand while keeping the involved wrist extended. Untwist: Allow the wrist to flex slowly. Exercise 3: Eccentric Supination with Elastic Band Position: Anchor band, elbow flexed to 90°. Action: Supinate: Rotate forearm with palm up. Flex: Slowly rotate to palm down, then return
The patient will sit on a chair while holding a pillow. DFM will be performed in perpendicular direction to the Extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon the site of the application will be on the upper attachment of the common extensor origin (palpated one cm distal to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus) for 5 minutes. Using the thumb, Firm pressure will be applied to compress the extensor tendons, their origins, and the musculotendinous junctions between the underlying bone and the fingertips. This pressure will be maintained while the therapist applies DFM in the direction of their fingers,
Visual Analogue Scale
is used to measure the pain which is represented from (0) grade to (10) grade, with zero means no pain and ten means intolerable pain, The subjects were asked to indicate the level of pain by placing a dash at the appropriate level on the 10 cm horizontal line
Time frame: 4 weeks
-Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire Arabic version
It is a 30-item; self-report questionnaire designed to assess the patient's health status. The items indicate the degree of difficulty in performing different physical activities (21 items), the severity of each of the symptoms of pain, activity-related pain, tingling, weakness and stiffness (5 items) and the impact of the problem on social, work, sleep and self-image (4 items). Each item has 5 response options. Scores range from 0 (no disability) to 100 (most severe disability)
Time frame: 4 weeks
Hand-held Dynamometer
for measuring wrist extensor strength, it is a sensitive, objective and affordable device
Time frame: 4 weeks
-Jamar grip dynamometer
for measuring hand grip strength, it is an accurate and quantifiable assessment tool
Time frame: 4 weeks
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