Lateral Epikondilitte Nöromobilizasyon Uygulamasının Etkinliğinin Araştırılması

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of neuromobilisation on pain, grip strength and function, and determine whether it is superior to eccentric strengthing exercises in lateral epicondylitis. 40 participants with lateral epicondylitis, 26 women and 14 men included this study. Patients were randomly assigned two groups. First group received neuromobilisation in addition to eccentric strengthing exercises and second group received only eccentric strengthing exercises. First group received neuromobilisation treatment for radial nerve three times a week for 3 weeks inpatient setting. Treatment consisted of 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Meanwhile neuromobilisation exercises were instructed to patients as a home exercise program, and they were asked to do these exercises 10 repetitions a day for 6 weeks. Eccentric strength exercises were conducted as a home exercise program, 3 sets of 10 repetitions a day for 6 weeks, in both groups. Participants' subjective pain intensity was assessed with VAS (Visual Analog Scale), grip strength by dynamometer, pinch strength by pinchmeter, pressure pain threshold by algometer, range of motion (ROM) by goniometer and functionality level by Turkish version of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (DASH-T). Participants' assessments were carried out at pre-treatment, 3. and 6. weeks of treatment and 12. weeks after pre-treatment. No statistically significant difference was found between two groups according to grip and pinch strength, wrist extension, flexion, radial deviation degrees and DASH-T scores (p>0,05). Neuromobilisation group's VAS at rest, VAS at night and VAS at activity pain scores were found to be better when comparing eccentric exercise group (p<0,05). In this study, we concluded that neuromobilisation combined with eccentric exercises may be more effective in the treatment of the lateral epicondylitis.