Bracing or Kinesio Taping in The Management of Lateral Epicondylitis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Lateral epicondylitis is an overuse syndrome of the forearm, which is associated with pain and sensitivity in the lateral elbow region. The aim of the study was to find out about is there any difference between the effects of traditional orthotic devices and adhesive taping, in the management of lateral epicondylitis. Therefore, the forearm counterforce brace, which was widely used in daily clinical practice for lateral epicondylitis, was compared with kinesio tape, a new technique of adhesive taping which has become increasingly popular. The study investigated and compared the effects of the two interventions (the forearm counterforce brace and kinesio tape) on pain severity, functional status and disability of patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Official Title
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Bracing or Kinesio Taping in The Management of Lateral Epicondylitis: a Randomized Single-blinded Trial

Conditions
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Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: forearm strap (counterforce brace)
* Other: Kinesio tape application


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: aged between 18 and 65 years presence of elbow pain lasting for less than three months Exclusion Criteria: history of acute trauma or fracture on forearm congenital or acquired elbow deformities demyelinating diseases patients who had diagnosed as fibromyalgia presence of skin lesion on lateral aspect of the elbow presence of rheumatic disease presence of systemic infection presence of pregnancy presence of malignancy

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: A prospective, randomized and assessor-blinded study
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: B (brace) group<br>The patients in the B group were informed about the application of the forearm strap (counterforce brace). Patients were advised to wear the counterforce brace for three weeks continuously. | Other: forearm strap (counterforce brace)<br> <br> |
| Active Comparator: KT (kinesio tape) group<br>In the KT group, a standard 2-inch (5 cm) Kinesio®Tex tape (Kinesio Holding Corporation, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA) was used with techniques of muscle inhibition and fascia correction. Kinesio tape was applied once a week for four weeks. | Other: Kinesio tape application<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pain Pressure Threshold | The tenderness on the lateral aspect of elbow was evaluated with pain pressure threshold measurements. An algometer device was used to measure pain pressure threshold. Pain pressure threshold measurements were performed at the baseline of the study, immediately after and one month later after treatment. | Baseline to 3 week (İmmediately after treatment) | 
| Grip Strength | Affected upper limb function was evaluated with maximal hand grip strength. Grip strength was measured with a hydraulic hand dynamometer. Grip strength was evaluated at the baseline of the study, immediately after and one month later after treatment. | Baseline to 3 week (İmmediately after treatment) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire | The Turkish version of Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire was used in the study. Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire is a 15-item self-reported questionnaire to measure perceived pain and disability in people with tennis elbow. The questionnaire is composed of three subscales: pain, usual activities and specific activities. Each of the items of the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire is scored on a 0-10 scale, where 0 is 'no pain' or 'no difficulty' and 10 is 'worst ever' or 'unable to do'. The total score ranges from 0 to 100, where high scores indicate greater pain and disability. Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire was evaluated at the baseline of the study, immediately after and one month later after treatment. | 0 week (Baseline), 3 week (After treatment), 7 week (One month later after treatment) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Lateral epicondylitis, forearm counterforce brace, kinesio taping