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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07695064

Comparing the Effects of Manual Cross Friction Massage Versus Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization on Pain, Range of Motion, And Functional Disability in Patients With Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This was a randomized controlled trial done to to compare the effect of manual Cross Friction Massage and IASTM in reducing pain , range of motion and functional disability in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis

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Key information

Conditions

Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis

Age range

18 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Ibadat International University, Islamabad

Peshawar, KPK, 25000, Pakistan

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Both male and female aged between 18 to 60 years with a clinical diagnosis of lateral elbow pain lasting for≥ 6 months duration VAS score ≥ 4 during resisted wrist extension or grip activity ≥1 of the following tests being positive . Mill's test pain on passive wrist flexion and elbow extension Cozen's test pain on resisted wrist extension, elbow extended, wrist in flexion and medial deviation .

Painful palpation at the origin of the ECRB or lateral epicondyle

Exclusion criteria

  • Participants will be excluded as:

History of recent fracture,dislocation,or surgery near the elbow joint in the last 3 month Neurological or systemic inflammatory conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis) Current use of corticosteroid injections in the elbow region within the past 6 weeks Previous physiotherapy interventions for the same complaint in the last 3 months.

Skin disorders or open wounds near the treatment area.

Treatment and study plan

Manual Cross Friction Massage (CFM)

Other

Patient seated , elbow flexed ~90 degree , forearm pronated , extensor tendon exposed and released. Thumb / index finger applies firm transverse pressure . Short , deep ,rhythmic strokes perpendicular to ECRB tendon fibers (5 to 10 min ).Total duration 35 - 40 mins. 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks.

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)

Other

Seated,Elbow flexed ~ 90 degree , forearm pronated, extensor tendon exposed and relaxed. Stainless steel IASTMCurve bar S shape , dual grip tool was used with moderate ,tolerable pressure . Longitudinal sweeping (1-2 min ) , Cross fiber stokes (1-2 min), Fanning over tender point ( 1- 2min). Flushing stokes (1min).40 -45 mins total time . 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks.

Primary outcomes

  1. Visual Analog Scale.

    Time frame: Assessments were performed at baseline (week 0) and post intervention (week 6).

    A Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain intensity during rest. The level of pain was recorded on a 10 cm line where 0 was classified as "no pain" and 10 was classified as "worst possible pain". Subjects were asked to indicate their pain level by placing a mark along this horizontal line

  2. Goniometer

    Time frame: Assessments was performed at baseline (week 0) and post intervention (week 6).

    ROM measured was used a standard universal goniometer, which is considered a valid, reliable, and widely accepted clinical tool for assessing joint angles in musculoskeletal conditions. Measurements were taken for wrist flexion, wrist extension, and elbow movements, following standardized positioning and landmark alignment to ensure consistency and accuracy.

  3. Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaire

    Time frame: Assessments was performed at baseline (week 0) and post intervention (week 6).

    Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaire The Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaire is an instrument that has been developed specifically for use with this disorder [16]. It takes the form of a 15-item questionnaire, with five items addressing pain and 10 concerned with functional deficit. For each item, the respondent uses a 0- 10 numerical scale to rate the average pain or difficulty they have experienced over the previous week while carrying out various activities that are commonly painful in tennis elbow. The marking system ensures that pain and function are weighted equally in the total score. Higher scores represent greater se- verity and the maximum score is 100

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Ibadat International University, Islamabad

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jul 10, 2026
Registry last updated
Jul 10, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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