Effects of Tendon Neuroplastic Training (TNT) on Pain and Strength in Lateral Epicondylitis.

Lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow is the common musculoskeletal degenerative disorder of the extensor origin at the lateral humeral epicondyle. It is the most common overuse syndrome seen in the primary care with the annual incidence of 1% to 3% in general population. This condition is most prevalent in age group of 45-54 years. The condition effect men and women equally. It mostly effects individuals with the history of repetitive wrist extension activities. Lateral epicondylitis is the chronic symptomatic degeneration (tendinosis) of the tendon of extensor muscles of forearm. According to cyriax most common effected muscle in lateral epicondylitis is extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB). Patients with lateral epicondylitis present to clinic with chief complaints of decrease grip strength and increase pain which may have a significant effect on their daily life activities.

Conventional treatment primarily focuses on pain management by anti-inflammatory medicine, Ultrasound, phonophoresis, ionophoresis and corticosteroid injection. In literature other physiotherapy approaches documented which includes manual therapy, stretching and strengthening exercises, electrotherapy, taping, shock-wave therapy, and acupuncture. There is greater evidence in favor of strengthening exercises in patients who have symptoms for more than 6 months. Other approaches also focus on eccentric exercises combined with static stretching exercises in treatment of tendinopathies. Isometric exercises are used to manage and reduce tendon pain. But all these interventions merely focus on the peripheral tissue and not address neuromuscular and complex corticospinal adaptation associated with the persistent pain and therefore lead to chronicity and less desirable outcomes. Tendon neuroplastic training (TNT) is proposed to address the central nervous system component and motor deficit of tendinopathies. It combines isometric or isotonic strengthening training with externally paced audio or visual cue provided by metronome rather than self-paced exercise and strongly focus on neuromuscular control with the aim to induce neuroplasticity. Corticospinal excitability and short interval cortical inhibition are factors through which we can measure motor control and is found altered in tendinopathy.