Effects of Scapular Strength Exercise for Patients With Lateral Epicondylalgia

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Lateral Epicondylitis

• Registration Number: NCT05373056
• Lead Sponsor: University of Alcala

Brief Summary

the aim of the study is to determine whether a scapular strength exercise program combined with a conventional exercise program in epicondylar region in patients with lateral epicondylalgia produces statistically significant improvements in pain in the short and medium term compared to a conventional exercise program.

Detailed Description

It is a single-blind clinical trial design, with third-party evaluation. There are two groups, the control group and the experimental group. In the control group, only the conventional exercise program for epicondylar muscles will be performed and the experimental group will also perform a scapular exercise program. Group assignment is randomized using the G\* POWER software program, following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Variables related to pain, functionality, pressure pain threshold, prehensile strength and quality of life will be measured. The study will last 7 months.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-02-28
• Status Verified: 2022-05
• Study First Submitted: 2022-05-03
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-05-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-05-10
• Study First Posted: 2022-05-13
• Last Update Posted: 2022-05-13
• Primary Completion: 2022-06-25
• Study Completion: 2022-07-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• tenderness over the epicondyle.
• Clinical diagnosis of LD for at least 3 months.
• Positive Mills and Maudsley test

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, cervical root syndrome, rotator cuff tendinopathy.
• Fractures or surgical history in the shoulder or elbow.
• History of elbow immobilization.
• Limitation in range of motion of the shoulder.
• Having undergone upper limb surgery in the last 6 months
• Unhealed wound in the region in the treatment area
• Impairment at a cognitive level that makes understanding with the therapist impossible.
• Neural entrapment of the radial nerve.
• Corticosteroid infiltration in the upper limb to be treated.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Visual Analog Scale for Pain	4 weeks	It will be measured with a 10 cm long horizontal line with descriptors at each end to help subjects identify their level of pain. The participants will mark with a cross the point of the line that most corresponds to the intensity of their symptoms. When interpreting the VAS, the respondent's cross position is usually assigned a score between 0 and 10. If documented on paper, pressures can simply be transferred to a scale of 100 values using a millimeter tape measure, although division into hundredths is considered sensitive enough.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Functionality	4 weeks	measured with "the patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation Questionnaire".It is made up of 15 items, 5 focused on pain and the other 10 distributed between activities of daily living (4 items) and more specific activities (6 items). The result of each item is represented on a scale from 0 (totally painless activity) to 10 (maximum pain imaginable), so the total score can vary between 0 and 150.
grip strength	4 weeks	measured by dynamometer
pressure threshold	4 weeks	measured by pressure algometer
The Quality of the lifestyle	4 weeks	measured with "The Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire".It is evaluated on a scale from 0 to 100, with the highest score being the maximum possible health and well-being. Finally, a total score is obtained from the questionnaire considering a score of 0-19 = very low, 20-39 = relatively low, 40-59 = average, 60-79 = relatively high and 80-100 = very high.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Alcala University; 🇪🇸 Madrid, Alcala De Henares, Spain