Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Kinesio Taping in Patients With Lateral Epicondylitis

European University of Lefke

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pain in Arm, Unspecified; Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) Bilateral; Tenosynovitis Elbow

Treatments: Other: Sham Kinesio Taping; Other: Kinesio Taping; Other: Sham Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS); Other: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03968796

Lateral Epicondylitis

Details and patient eligibility

About

Lateral epicondylitis is the most common condition affecting the elbow and characterized by pain over the lateral epicondyle. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the efficacy of TENS and Kinesio Taping in lateral epicondylitis.

Full description

In this prospective-randomized, assessor blinded controlled trial, seventy-eight patients (63 women, 15 men, mean age 47,5 ±7,94 years) with lateral epicondylitis were enrolled. Patients were allocated into 4 treatment groups: Group 1 received TENS and Kinesio Taping, group 2 received TENS+sham Kinesio Taping, group 3 received sham TENS+ Kinesio Taping and group 4 received sham TENS+sham Kinesio Taping. TENS was applied for 10 sessions and Kinesio Taping for 4 times in 10 days. All patients were given a progressive exercise program and were informed about the disease. All patients were told to take paracetamol 500 mg if their pain is severe and to note the number of the paracetamol taken.

Outcome measures were pain-free grip strength, pressure pain threshold and pain severity at rest, night and forced wrist extension test. Patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) was used to determine functional status. Patients were assessed for outcome measures at screening, after treatment (day 10) and 12th week after the treatment.

Enrollment: 78 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19 to 72 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 19 to 72
• Enough cognitive ability to fill clinical assessment forms
• Agreed to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• Severe or progressive neurological deficits
• Severe psychiatric disease history, substance and/or alcohol dependence,
• Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, malignancy, osteoporosis
• A history of inflammatory or infectious disease
• A skin allergy story
• Previously undergone physical therapy due to lateral epicondylitis

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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78 participants in 4 patient groups, including a placebo group

Group 1

Active Comparator group

Description:

A total of 10 sessions of TENS were administered to each patient for 20 minutes daily. Kinesio taping was performed a total of 3 sessions on the 1st, 4th and 7th days of treatment.

Treatment:

Other: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Other: Kinesio Taping

Group 2

Active Comparator group

Description:

A total of 10 sessions of TENS were administered to each patient for 20 minutes daily. Sham Kinesio taping was performed a total of 3 sessions on the 1st, 4th and 7th days of treatment, but taping was done incorrectly.

Treatment:

Other: Sham Kinesio Taping

Other: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Group 3

Active Comparator group

Description:

A total of 10 sessions of Sham TENS(the device was not operated) were administered to each patient for 20 minutes daily. Kinesio taping was performed a total of 3 sessions on the 1st, 4th and 7th days of treatment.

Treatment:

Other: Sham Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Other: Kinesio Taping

Group 4

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

A total of 10 sessions of Sham TENS(the device was not operated) were administered to each patient for 20 minutes daily. Sham Kinesio taping was performed a total of 3 sessions on the 1st, 4th and 7th days of treatment, but taping was done incorrectly.

Treatment:

Other: Sham Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

Other: Sham Kinesio Taping