Chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy with a supervised graded exercise protocol.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy (LET) is a common condition with ongoing research into effective treatments.
• Exercise therapy is a primary intervention, but optimal protocols require further investigation.
• Uncertainty remains regarding the specific benefits of graded exercise progression for LET.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a graded exercise program on pain and functional outcomes in LET patients.
• To determine if basic and advanced exercise phases yield differential effects.
• To assess changes in pain, function, and grip strength following a structured exercise regimen.

Main Methods:

• A prospective case series involving 28 patients diagnosed with LET.
• Participants underwent a phased exercise program: 4 weeks of basic exercises (Grade 1) followed by 4 weeks of advanced exercises (Grade 2).
• Outcomes measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, pressure algometry, Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), and grip strength dynamometry at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in VAS pain scores (activity, rest, night) and pressure algometry readings were observed after both basic and advanced exercises (p < 0.05).
• PRTEE scores demonstrated substantial improvement following both basic and advanced exercise phases (p > 0.001).
• Grip strength showed a significant increase only after the basic exercise phase (p = 0.003).

Conclusions:

• Basic exercises provide initial benefits for pain relief and functional improvement in LET.
• Advanced exercises are necessary to achieve further significant enhancements in pain, function, and grip strength.
• A graded approach to exercise therapy appears beneficial for managing Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy.