A study to analyse the effect of plyometric exercise training among patients with lateral elbow pain

Lateral epicondylitis(LE) commonly known as tennis elbow. It is referred to the inflammation of common wrist extensor group of the muscles especially an extensor carpi radialis brevis muscles.

Apporoximately 1-3% of the general population suffers from LE, with the dominant arm commonly affected. contractile overloads that chronically stress the tendon near the attachment on the humerus are the primary cause of LE. It occurs in repetitive upper extremity activities such as computer use, heavy lifting, forceful forearm pronation and supination, and repetitive vibration.

plyometric training also called stretch-shortening drills, employs high-velocity eccentric to concentric muscle loading, reflexive reactions, and functional movements patterns. The evidence to support the effectiveness of plyometric training for developing muscle strength and power is substantial. There is also evidences indicating that plyometric training is associated with an increase in a muscle’s ability to resist stretch, which may enhance physical performance.

plyometric exercises in the rehabilitation protocol for LE can be beneficial as it reduce the recurrance rate and improving the muscle strength and power

NEED FOR THE STUDY: The main complaint in LE is pain, decreased grip strength & upper extremity functions which may in turn affect activities of daily living. Since the conventional program have been addressing that there could be better improvement of function with other methods of treatment. conventional treatment resulting in slower recovery of function, so its unique attempt to include plyometric exercise program as a intervention for lateral elbow pain due to minimal literature.

Hence it was aims primarily to use plyometric as a intervention

AIM: To compare the effect of plyometric exercise over conventional exercise among patients with lateral epicondylitis.

OBJECTIVES: To determine & compare the effect of plyometric exercises over conventional exercises on pain, grip strength & functional performance in study participants with lateral epicondylitis.

CONCLUSION: The experimental group which include plyometric exercises were significant in marked reduction of pain intensity after, increasing the grip strength, improving functional performance and improvement or normalization of the tendon image as demonstrated by decreasing thickness and improvement and a recovered homogenous tendon structure in lateral epicondylitis.