Lateral Epikondilitli Olgularda Radyal Esktrakorporeal Şok Dalga Tedavisinin Ağrı ve Fonsiyonellik Üzerinde Etkisi

Abstract

In this study, the effect of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (RESWT) on pain and functionality were investigated in patients with lateral epicondylitis. This study was carried out on 45 patients. Patients were divided into three groups; high pulsed RESWT and exercise, low pulsed RESWT and exercise and only exercise. In high pulsed RESWT and exercise group, RESWT was applied with 2000 pulses, once in a week, total of 3 sessions and in low pulsed RESWT and exercise group, 20 pulses, once in a week, totally 3 sessions. Stretching and eccentric strengthening exercises were given to the patients in all three groups. The patients were evaluated before and after the treatment and 6 and 12 weeks after the treatment using Visual Analog Scale for subjective pain intensity, algometer for pain threshold, dynamometer for grip strength, goniometry for range of motion, The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Score (DASH), Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) and Upper Extremity Functional Scale (UEFS) for functionality, Medical Outcomes 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) for quality of life. Roles and Maudsley Score was used for measuring patient?s satisfaction. There was no statistically significant difference in pain intensity during rest, palpation, Thomsen test and activities of daily living, pain threshold in frohse arch, range of motion, functionality measured with UEFS and all parameters of SF-36 exception of pain parameter between the groups (p>0.05). It was found that high pulsed RESWT was more effective than the other applications for night and grip pain intensity, lateral and medial epicondyle pain pressure, grip strength and functionality measured with DASH and PRTEE (p<0.05). Based on these results we concluded that using RESWT combined with other conservative treatments mostly consisted of exercise could be more effective.