Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Cupping Therapy in The Treatment of Tennis Elbow: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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One hundred and twenty patients (67 females and 53 males) with unilateral TE were included in the study from January 2020 to December 2020 and diagnosed by an orthopedist. Their ages ranged between 20 and 50 years old.

Detailed Description
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They were divided randomly into three groups by lottery method. Group A (n=30) received conventional therapy, group B (n=30) received TENS in addition to conventional therapy, group C received cupping therapy with conventional therapy and group D (n=30) received TENS and cupping therapy plus conventional therapy. All patients read and signed a consent form before participation in this trial. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, October 6 University, Egypt. Patients with pain in the lateral epicondylar region, increased pain with pressure and resistance to wrist extension, persistence of symptoms for more than three months, no physical therapy interventions during the last three months were included in the study while patients with bilateral tennis elbow, proximal radio-ulnar joint synovitis, radial nerve entrapment, cervical spine radiculopathy, other diseases like medial epicondylitis, impaired sensibility and paralysis that may affect the outcome measurement and previous injury or surgery in the region of common extensor origin were excluded from this study.

Official Title
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Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Cupping Therapy in The Treatment of Tennis Elbow: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Tennis Elbow

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: conventional therapy
* Other: cupping therapy
* Device: TENS
* Other: TENS and cupping therapy


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: - Patients with pain in the lateral epicondylar region, increased pain with pressure and resistance to wrist extension, persistence of symptoms for more than three months, no physical therapy interventions during the last three months Exclusion Criteria: patients with bilateral tennis elbow, proximal radio-ulnar joint synovitis, radial nerve entrapment, cervical spine radiculopathy, other diseases like medial epicondylitis, impaired sensibility and paralysis that may affect the outcome measurement and previous injury or surgery in the region of common extensor origin

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 50 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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: group A<br>received conventional therapy | Other: conventional therapy<br>* conventional therapy<br>|
| Experimental: group B<br>received TENS in addition to conventional therapy | Other: conventional therapy<br>* conventional therapy<br>Device: TENS<br>* transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation<br>|
| Experimental: group C<br>received cupping therapy with conventional therapy | Other: conventional therapy<br>* conventional therapy<br>Other: cupping therapy<br>* cupping therapy<br>|
| Experimental: group D<br>TENS and cupping therapy plus conventional therapy | Other: conventional therapy<br>* conventional therapy<br>Other: TENS and cupping therapy<br>* TENS and cupping therapy<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Visual Analog Scale (VAS) |  | 4 weeks | 
| Pain-Free Grip Strength |  | 4 weeks | 
| Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) |  | 4 weeks |