Session Information
Title: Fibromyalgia, Soft Tissue Disorders, Regional and Specific Clinical Pain Syndromes: Clinical Focus
Session Type: Abstract Submissions (ACR)
Background/Purpose: Lateral epicondylitis (LA), also known as tennis elbow, is a quite common disease with a prevalence of 1.7% and mostly seen between 3rd and 6th decade of life.
Methods:
67 elbows diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis were divided randomly into two groups as HILT (33,9 and as wrist splint (34). 33 wrists were treated for 5 sessions weekly for two weeks. The remaining elbows, 34, were recommended to wear wrist splints for 6 subsequent weeks. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of HILT and wrist splint treatment. Patients were evaluated before and in 6th week of post treatment period using visual analogue scale for pain (VAS) during activity and resting, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Score, hand grip strength test (HGST), and Short Form 36 (SF-36).
Results:
Out of the 60 patients, 14 male and 46 female with a mean age of 46,28 ± 9,44. The pretreatment and 6th week scores of the HILT patients were as follows: VAS activity 8,33±1,97, 6,03±2.35 VAS resting 5,75±3,27, 2,72±2.41, DASH 53.40±22, 38.33±17.10, HGST 15.49±9.95, 21,52±13,18, SF 36 physical component 35.35±17,72, 66,74±15,75, and SF 36 mental component 46,43±17.31, 62,16±17,93 and of the wrist splint group as the following: VAS activity 7,77±2,34, 6,14±3,20, VAS resting 4,67±3,10, 2,79±3.01 , DASH 44,68±16,03, 30.49±17.52, HGST 17,19±7,66 , 20,81±8,11, SF 36 physical component 36,70±15,13, 50,42±18,93, and SF 36 mental component 38,62±15,57, 52,33±18,72.
The VAS activity, resting, DASH, HGST, SF36 physical, and SF36 mental component scores of both groups revealed significant improvements on comparing their pretreatment and 6th week score. Except the SF physical component scores, none of these variables were statistically significant when the HILT and wrist splint groups were compared. The statistical difference was in favor of the HILT group.
Conclusion:
The findings of the present study suggest that both HILT and wrist splints are reliable, safe, and effective treatment options in LE patients. Although HILT has been determined to be more effective in increasing functional capacity, both groups revealed almost equally positive outcomes, in the short and long term considering pain, functional status and quality of life.
Disclosure:
E. Akkurt,
None;
H. Yilmaz,
None;
A. Salli,
None;
S. Parlak,
None;
G. Karaca,
None;
S. Kucuksen,
None.
« Back to 2014 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/comparison-high-intensity-laser-therapy-and-wrist-splint-in-the-treatment-of-lateral-epicondylitis/