Comparative Study Between Different Duty Cycles of Ultrasound Diclofenac Phonophoresis in Management of Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis: Randomized Controlled Trial

Lateral epicondylitis is a soft-tissue lesion of the tendinous origin of the wrist extensor muscles at their origin on the lateral humeral epicondyle. The extensor carpi radialis brevis is the area of most pathologic changes. It begins as a microtear of the tendinous origin of the wrist extensor muscles and results in degeneration and reactive granulation tissue formation. Activities involving prolonged or repeated gripping, wrist extension, forearm supination, and pronation cause eventual failure of the affected portion of the tendon. The mechanical failure of the tendon results in an ensuring tendinitis and symptoms of lateral epicondylitis. It is aggravated with movements of the wrist, by palpation of the lateral side of elbow, or by contraction of extensor muscles of the wrist.

There are different treatment methods for lateral epicondylitis. Initially, lateral epicondylitis has been treated with ice, rest, counterforce tennis brace and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. But when the condition is not responding to initial treatment physical therapy is initiated