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Updated: Oct 26, 2025
A Standardized Method for Measurement of Elbow Kinesthesia
Published on: October 10, 2020
Proprioceptive elbow training reduces pain and improves function in painful lateral epicondylitis-a prospective trial
B Schiffke-Juhász1, K Knobloch2, P M Vogt3
1Herzogin Elisabeth Hospital, Braunschweig, Germany. berit.schiffke@gmx.de.
Background:
In painful epicondylitis, previous studies reported deficiencies in elbow proprioception. In line, proprioceptive training of the lower limb has been reported substantial beneficial in a number of indications. Therefore, we have asked if a specified proprioceptive training using training devices that are capable of activating the deep musculature in the upper limb is able to reduce the symptoms of epicondylitis.
Materials And Methods:
We included 71 patients with painful lateral epicondylitis > 3 months.
Interventions:
Group A: Proprioceptive training intervention with a Flexibar® (9 min daily for 12 weeks). Group B: at least 40 min running or walking/week with the XCO® in addition to the proprioceptive training with the Flexibar® (9 min daily for 12 weeks), follow-up for 12 weeks. Primary end point: Pain on visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-10); secondary end points: DASH-Score (0 = very good, 100 = very poor), grip strength according to Jamar dynamometer (kg), vibration sensation measured with a 128 Hz tuning fork.
Results:
The pain on VAS in group A was reduced significantly. 3.6 ± 2.0 to 2.4 ± 2.1 (-33%, p = 0.013), and from 3.7 ± 2.4 to 2.2 ± 1.9 (-41%, p = 0.004) in group B after 12 weeks. There was no significant difference between A and B (p = 0.899). In both groups, there was a significant improvement of the DASH-Score (A: 32 ± 15 to 14 ± 12, -56%, p < 0.001; B: 27 ± 12 to 12 ± 11, -55%, p = 0.001) without any difference between groups A and B (p = 0.339). Grip strength improvement in group A from 24 ± 12 to 33 ± 11 kg (+38%, p < 0.001), and from 29 ± 14 to 34 ± 11 kg (+15%, p < 0.001) in group B. In line, vibration sensation improved in both groups (A: 6.3 ± 0.6 to 6.5 ± 0.5, p = 0.0001; B: 6.3 ± 0.7 to 6.6 ± 0.5, p = 0.003).
Conclusion:
A 12-week proprioceptive training with the Flexibar® improves pain, quality of life, grip strength and vibration sensation in patients with painful lateral epicondylitis.
Level Of Evidence:
Ib, randomised clinical trial TRIAL REGISTRATION: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00024857 , registered on 25 March 2021-retrospectively registered, http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/.
