Treatment practice in chronic epicondylitis: a survey among general practitioners and physiotherapists in Uppsala County, Sweden

Abstract

Objective: To investigate treatment practice among general practitioners (GPs) and physiotherapists (PTs) in chronic epicondylitis of 3 months' duration or more.

Design: Postal survey.

Setting and subjects: All 129 GPs and all 77 PTs at 35 primary health care centres in Uppsala County, Sweden, received the questionnaire.

Main outcome measures: Proportion of responders using various treatments (five specified alternatives + open question).

Results: The questionnaire was answered by 70% of the GPs and 61% of the PTs. Ergonomic counselling, stretching, and orthotic devices were common, and used to a similar extent by GPs and PTs. Acupuncture was also common, but less so among GPs than PTs. Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation was used by relatively few GPs and PTs. The open question revealed that dynamic exercise, particularly eccentric, was used by most PTs but only one GP. A majority of GPs prescribed sick leave and anti-inflammatory treatment with an NSAID or cortisone injections.

Conclusion: A large number of treatment methods in chronic epicondylitis were reported, none of which is properly evidence-based and some of which are even known to be ineffective. There is a need for randomized controlled studies of potentially effective treatments in this condition.