Clinical trial: Finnish Tennis Elbow Trial Pilot Study (NCT02425982)

Eligibility criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

          1. Clinically diagnosed tennis elbow defined as: Pain on the lateral side of the elbow,
             made worse by pressure applied on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and during
             resisted extension of the wrist or when making a fist with the elbow joint straight.

          2. Duration of symptoms over 10 months

          3. Age between 35 and 60 years

          4. Ability to fill in Finnish questionnaires

          5. Written informed consent

        Exclusion Criteria:

          1. Earlier fracture or dislocation in the elbow joint area

          2. Earlier surgical treatment of the same elbow joint

          3. Congenital deformity in the elbow

          4. Systemic muscle, tendon, nerve or joint disease

          5. Other problems causing pain the elbow joint:

               1. Pain in the medial epicondyle of the elbow

               2. Pain in the biceps muscle tendon

               3. Painful snapping or crepitus of elbow joint

               4. Instability of elbow joint (table top, posterolateral drawer test)

          6. A passive movement limitation of more than 10 degrees in the elbow joint

          7. Abnormal finding in an elbow joint X-ray. An elbow joint X-ray is a routine
             examination of elbow symptoms.
No condition on gender to be admitted to the trial.
No healthy subjects accepted to join the trial.
Subject must be at least 35 Years old.
Subject must be at most 60 Years

Patient description (medical language): A 17-year-old male comes to the office due to several months of right elbow pain.  The pain is worse with activity and limits his workouts and activities.  He has tried over-the-counter medications with limited relief.  Medical history is notable for eczema, and current medications include a topical hydrocortisone ointment.  He is sexually active with his girlfriend and uses condoms. He does not smoke or drink alcohol. He plays tennis most of the days of the week. The comprehensive evaluation shows pain on the lateral side of the elbow, made worse by pressure applied on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus and when making a fist with the elbow joint straightened. The patient has this pain since last year and had several courses of physical therapy.

Patient description (patient's own words): I'm 17, and I had to go to the doctor because I've been suffering from my right elbow for several months. The pain is even worse when I do sports and it kind of limits me for my workouts and activities. I tried over-the-counter medications but it didn't work much. I had eczema before and my medication is ointments that contain cortisone. I am sexually active as a 17-year-old guy, and I have a girlfriend, and we use condoms. I don't smoke or drink. I play tennis most days of the week. I did an exam that showed pain on the side of my elbow and it was worse when they applied some pressure on it and when I was putting my hand as a fist. I have had this pain since last year, and I had several sessions of physical therapy already.

Does the patient match the trial criteria? Contradiction