Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ESWT and intervention combining ESWT and eccentric exercise on pain, function, and grip strength of patients with LE before vs. after the intervention.
Methods: Fifty patients who ...
Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ESWT and intervention combining ESWT and eccentric exercise on pain, function, and grip strength of patients with LE before vs. after the intervention.
Methods: Fifty patients who were diagnosed with LE and visited our hospital were included in the study. Through block randomization excluding 16 dropouts, the subjects were divided into the ESWT with interferential current therapy (ICT) group (EIG)(n=18), who received ESWT and ICT, and the eccentric exercise group (EEG) (n=16), who performed eccentric exercise following ESWT. The EIG received ESWT and ICT once a week, for 4 weeks, and the EEG received the same treatment as that in the EIG but also performed eccentric and stretching exercises at home, five times a week for 4 weeks. The evaluation was conducted by measuring pain (visual analogue scale), function (Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation questionnaire), and grip strength (pain-free grip strength) and comparing the outcomes before and after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 for Windows.
Results: Regarding pain before and after the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in pain reduction within both the EIG and EEG (p<.05, both). In the comparison between the EIG and EEG, the EEG showed more reduction in pain, but the difference was not statistically significant (p>.05). Regarding function before and after the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference in the change of functional enhancement within both groups (p<.05, both). In the comparison between the EIG and EEG, the EEG showed more improvement in function, but the difference was not statistically significant (p>.05). Regarding grip strength before and after the intervention, there was a statistically significant difference within both groups (p<.05, both). In the comparison between the EIG and EEG, the EEG showed more increase in grip strength, but the difference was not statistically significant (p>.05).
Conclusion: Both interventions, ESWT and ESWT combined with eccentric exercise, for patients with LE resulted in significant reductions in pain, enhancement in function, and increase in grip strength. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the EIG and EEG. Further studies on exercise program, detailed exercise
method, exercise duration, and effective monitoring of home exercise for eccentric
exercise are required.