Determining the Immediate Effects of Counterforce Bracing Versus Kinesiotaping in Patients With Tennis Elbow

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Tennis Elbow
• Interventions: Device: Kinesiotape; Device: Counterforce elbow brace

• Registration Number: NCT02235818
• Lead Sponsor: Lawson Health Research Institute

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study was to compare the immediate efficacy of Counterforce brace versus kinesiotaping on patients with lateral epicondylosis/tennis elbow with respect to a repetitive physical task. The investigators hypothesized that there would be difference in the outcomes with respect to interventions and activity. Patient came for one hour long Single occasion testing session and were not followed up after the testing was complete.

Detailed Description

This was a cross over randomized control trial. Thirty patients with clinical diagnosis of lateral epicondylosis/tennis elbow were recruited from a local community and were tested on single occasion (one time testing session) before and after a five minute upper extremity repetitive task first with control and then brace and kinesiotape assigned in cross-over design. The testing session was one hour long and there was no follow up of patients following the testing. The patients were recruited between Jan-June 2013.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2013-01
• Primary Completion: 2013-06
• Study Completion: 2013-06
• Study First Submitted: 2013-07-04
• Status Verified: 2014-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-09-08
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-09-08
• Study First Posted: 2014-09-10
• Last Update Posted: 2014-09-10

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

1. Age (18-70 years)
2. Ability to provide written informed consent to participate
3. Were at least three weeks from onset of symptoms
4. Complaints of discomfort or pain at the lateral elbow region for a minimum of three weeks and tenderness with palpation of the lateral epicondyle
5. Provocation of lateral elbow pain with one of the following test - resisted middle finger extension, resisted wrist extension or passive stretch of wrist extensors

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Exclusion Criteria

1. History of surgery on affected elbow
2. History of cortisone injections on the affected elbow in the past 4 weeks
3. Any physical or mental limitations that precluded performance of the study testing
4. Allergy to adhesive tapes

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Kinesiotape (KT)	Kinesiotape	Kinesiotape was used only on the affected side as per the manufacturer instructions. With the elbow extended, wrist fully flexed and fingers pointed down 24, KT was applied with slight stretch (10-15%) and paper off tension to the lateral arm beginning just above the bony portion of lateral epicondyle. Once the top strand was anchored, KT was applied along the side of elbow such that hole in the tape was over lateral epicondyle of the elbow. Two strands of tape followed the lateral forearm and ended at around beginning of the distal one third of forearm. Once the support was applied, KT was gently rubbed to activate the glue.
Counterforce elbow brace	Counterforce elbow brace	The counterforce brace was approximately 5cm wide with velcro attachment for adjustable girth. It had gel pack for extra support on extensor muscle mass. With the elbow extended, brace was applied 2.5cms below the lateral epicondyle. A feeling of comfortable compression, as reported by the patients was used to adjust the brace.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pain free grip strength	initial visit	Pain free grip strength was recorded with J-tech medical dynamometer before and after five minutes of repetitive physical exposure with first control (no intervention) and then brace and kinesiotape assigned randomly in cross-over fashion.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pressure Pain Threshold	initial visit	Pressure Pain Threshold was recorded with J-tech medical Algometer before and after five minutes of repetitive physical exposure with first control (no intervention) and then brace and kinesiotape assigned randomly in cross-over fashion.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St. Joseph's Health Centre; 🇨🇦 London, Ontario, Canada