Chiropractic treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a case report utilizing active release techniques

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this report is to describe the chiropractic management of a case of lateral epicondylitis with active release techniques (ART).

Clinical features: A 48-year-old white man presented to a chiropractic clinic with a complaint of left lateral elbow pain that began 2 years previous with insidious onset. The patient reported an inability to play 18 consecutive holes of golf due to the pain.

Intervention and outcome: Treatment consisted of 5 sessions of ART (a soft tissue technique that is applied to muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and nerves) applied to the left elbow soft tissue over a duration of 3 weeks. The patient reported an absence of pain and ability to consistently play 18 consecutive holes of golf up to 3 times per week at 4 and 8 weeks post-treatment.

Conclusion: This patient with lateral epicondylitis responded favorably to chiropractic treatment using the application of ART, as demonstrated by reduced pain and increased functional outcomes.

Keywords: Chiropractic; Lateral humeral epicondylitis; Musculoskeletal manipulations; Tennis elbow.

Fig 1

Cozen’s test requires the patient to actively make a fist, pronate the forearm, and radially deviate and extend the wrist while the examiner applies resistance to the motion at the wrist. Cozen’s test aims to identify the presence of lateral epicondylitis.

Fig 2

Mill’s test is performed with the examiner palpating the lateral epicondyle and passively pronating the patient’s forearm, flexing the wrist fully, and extending the elbow. Mill’s test aims to identify the presence of lateral epicondylitis.

Fig 3

ART common extensors protocol.