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Effect of Supervised over Self-Performed Eccentric Exercise on Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy: A Pilot Study
Antonio Oya-Casero1, Miguel Muñoz-Cruzado Barba1, Manuel Madera-García2
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Málaga, Andalucía Tech., Arquitecto Francisco Peñalosa, 3, 29071 Málaga, Spain.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|December 23, 2022
Summary
Eccentric exercise programs, whether guided by a physiotherapist or self-performed for lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET), effectively improved patient function and reduced pain. Both methods showed positive outcomes for LET treatment.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedics
- Sports Medicine
- Physical Therapy
Background:
- Lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET) is a common condition.
- The effectiveness of self-performed eccentric exercise for LET lacks definitive proof.
- Comparing supervised versus self-administered exercise is crucial for treatment guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of physiotherapist-applied eccentric exercises versus self-performed eccentric exercises for LET.
- To evaluate the impact of two different eccentric exercise delivery methods on pain and function in LET patients.
Main Methods:
- A single-blind, pilot, randomized controlled trial was conducted with 20 patients diagnosed with LET.
- Participants were randomized into two groups: one receiving physiotherapist-applied eccentric exercises and the other performing self-administered exercises guided by a brochure.
- Pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and function (DASH questionnaire) were assessed pre-intervention, post-intervention, and at 3-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- Both the physiotherapist-guided and self-performed eccentric exercise groups showed improvements in function and pain reduction.
- The experimental group (physiotherapist-applied) demonstrated a trend towards greater improvement in function (DASH: -15.91) and pain reduction (VAS: -2.88) compared to the control group.
- These observed differences between the groups did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Eccentric exercise is an effective treatment modality for improving function and reducing pain in patients with lateral elbow tendinopathy.
- Both direct physiotherapist application and patient self-performance of eccentric exercises yield positive clinical outcomes for LET.
- Further research with larger sample sizes may be warranted to determine statistically significant differences between supervised and self-administered programs.
