Exercise Therapy and Orthoses in Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy: Comparative Effects

Summary

The aim of this study is to address the inconsistencies in the literature by investigating the effects of a forearm counterforce brace and a wrist splint, used in addition to exercise therapy, on pain, functionality, and grip strength in individuals diagnosed with lateral elbow tendinopathy, compared to those receiving exercise therapy alone.The findings aim to provide valuable insights into clinical practice by highlighting the roles of both orthosis use and exercise in the treatment of lateral elbow tendinopathy.

Conditions

• Lateral Epicondylitis

Interventions

OTHER

Exercise-Only Group (Control Group)

Participants in this group will only undergo a standardized exercise protocol. The exercises will be part of a program lasting 6 weeks, conducted 2 days per week. A combined evidence-based exercise program consisting of wrist isometric, concentric, and eccentric exercises will be applied to the individuals in the group. For free-weight exercises, participants will start with weights of 0.5-1 kg, tailored to the individual. Progression will be achieved with 0.5-1 kg increments. For exercises using resistance bands, the increase in resistance will be provided by selecting the next level band color. Participants will be assessed before treatment, at the end of the 6th week, and at the end of the 12th week.

OTHER

Exercise + Forearm Counterforce Brace Group

Participants in this group will undergo a standardized exercise protocol and will be provided with a counterforce forearm brace in addition to exercise therapy. The exercises will be part of a program lasting 6 weeks, conducted 2 days per week. A combined evidence-based exercise program consisting of wrist isometric, concentric, and eccentric exercises will be applied to the individuals in the group. For free-weight exercises, participants will start with weights of 0.5-1 kg, tailored to the individual. Progression will be achieved with 0.5-1 kg increments. For exercises using resistance bands, the increase in resistance will be provided by selecting the next level band color. Participants will be assessed before treatment, at the end of the 6th week, and at the end of the 12th week.

OTHER

Exercise + Wrist Brace Group

Participants in this group will undergo a standardized exercise protocol and will be provided with a wrist brace in addition to exercise therapy. The exercises will be part of a program lasting 6 weeks, conducted 2 days per week. A combined evidence-based exercise program consisting of wrist isometric, concentric, and eccentric exercises will be applied to the individuals in the group. For free-weight exercises, participants will start with weights of 0.5-1 kg, tailored to the individual. Progression will be achieved with 0.5-1 kg increments. For exercises using resistance bands, the increase in resistance will be provided by selecting the next level band color. Participants will be assessed before treatment, at the end of the 6th week, and at the end of the 12th week.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Büşra Kültür, MSc · Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

• Derya Çelik, Prof. Dr. · Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-12-02

Primary Completion

2025-08-15

Completion

2025-10-15

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations