Institute of Sport Sciences, Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Mikolowska 72A, 40-065, Poland.
Osteopathy and Physiotherapy Center, Żywiec, 34-300, Poland.
Sci Rep. 2024 Oct 30;14(1):26053. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-77410-w.
Persistent symptoms of lateral epicondylitis prompt patients to seek effective conservative treatment. The study aimed to determine the effects of focused shock wave (FSWT) and ultrasound therapies for lateral epicondylitis. Sixty patients with tennis elbow were randomly divided into three equal groups: A, B, and C. Group A received a total of 3 FSWT sessions, with 7 days between treatments; Group B received ultrasound therapy in 10 sessions over 2 weeks, while patients in Group C were treated with placebo ultrasound. All patients were also given deep friction massage. Before the start of therapy, and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 weeks after its completion, pain intensity and function of the affected upper limb were assessed in all patients. Wrist extensor and flexor strength and grip strength were measured in the affected and unaffected limb. Significant reductions in pain and significant improvements in the function of the affected limb compared to baseline values were observed in all study groups at 6 and 12 weeks after the completion of therapy. Analysis of percentage changes in these variables showed significant differences between Groups A and B in favor of Group A. The strength of wrist extensors and grip strength of the affected limb at 6 and 12 weeks after treatment completion was significantly higher in Groups A and B compared to pre-therapy values. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding percentage changes in muscle strength in the affected limb. Pain reduction and function improvement in patients with lateral epicondylitis were significantly greater after FSWT (0.2 mJ/mm / 4 Hz / 2000 shocks) than after sonotherapy (3 MHz / 0.5 W/cm / 20%). Increases in wrist extensor strength and grip strength of the affected limb were comparable after both therapies. Given the greater therapeutic effect in the subjective evaluation, we recommend a combination therapy of FSWT with deep friction massage.Trial registration The trial was prospectively registered in the ISRCTN registry (no. ISRCTN11907358 registration date 30.07.2020).
肱骨外上髁炎的持续症状促使患者寻求有效的保守治疗。本研究旨在确定聚焦式冲击波（FSWT）和超声疗法对肱骨外上髁炎的疗效。60 名网球肘患者被随机分为三组：A、B 和 C。A 组共接受 3 次 FSWT 治疗，每次治疗间隔 7 天；B 组在 2 周内接受 10 次超声治疗，而 C 组患者接受安慰剂超声治疗。所有患者均接受深部摩擦按摩。在治疗开始前，以及治疗完成后 1、3、6 和 12 周，所有患者均评估患侧上肢疼痛强度和功能。测量患侧和健侧腕伸肌和屈肌力量以及握力。治疗完成后 6 和 12 周，所有研究组的疼痛均显著减轻，患侧上肢功能均显著改善，与基线值相比。对这些变量的百分比变化进行分析，发现 A 组和 B 组之间有显著差异，A 组更优。治疗完成后 6 和 12 周，A 组和 B 组患侧腕伸肌和握力均明显高于治疗前。然而，各组患侧肌肉力量的百分比变化之间无统计学差异。与超声疗法（3MHz/0.5W/cm/20%）相比，FSWT（0.2mJ/mm/4Hz/2000 次冲击）后患者的疼痛缓解和外侧上髁炎功能改善更为显著。两种治疗后患侧腕伸肌力量和握力均有增加。鉴于主观评估中的治疗效果更大，我们建议将 FSWT 与深部摩擦按摩相结合的联合治疗。试验注册本试验在 ISRCTN 注册中心进行了前瞻性注册（注册号：ISRCTN86435404 注册日期：2020 年 7 月 30 日）。
