Effects of concentric contraction of the wrists and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation cycle on pain and muscle strength in lateralepicondylitis patients

Abstract

[Purpose] This study examined the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and concentric contraction of the muscles surrounding the elbow joints on pain and muscular strength in the elbow joints of patients with lateral epicondylitis. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects of this study were 30 patients who visited our hospital with the main complaint of lateral pain in the elbow joint. All subjects were randomly and equally assigned to an experimental group that conducted concentric contraction exercises in sync with a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation cycle and a control group that performed concentric contraction after the application of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Patients used a 10 cm visual analogue scale to evaluate the level of pain in their elbow joints. To measure the strength of muscles around the elbow joints, the subjects' paretic grip strength was measured using an electronic grip strength dynamometer. [Results] No statistically significant difference in visual analog scale was found between the two groups. Regarding changes in grip strength, changes in the experimental group's grip strength were significantly greater than those in the control group. [Conclusion] These results can be used as a basis for reducing pain and improving strength in lateral epicondylitis patients.

Keywords: Concentric contraction; Epicondylitis; Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation.