Effect of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Cupping Therapy in The Treatment of Tennis Elbow: A Randomized Controlled Trial

They were divided randomly into three groups by lottery method. Group A (n=30) received conventional therapy, group B (n=30) received TENS in addition to conventional therapy, group C received cupping therapy with conventional therapy and group D (n=30) received TENS and cupping therapy plus conventional therapy. All patients read and signed a consent form before participation in this trial. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, October 6 University, Egypt. Patients with pain in the lateral epicondylar region, increased pain with pressure and resistance to wrist extension, persistence of symptoms for more than three months, no physical therapy interventions during the last three months were included in the study while patients with bilateral tennis elbow, proximal radio-ulnar joint synovitis, radial nerve entrapment, cervical spine radiculopathy, other diseases like medial epicondylitis, impaired sensibility and paralysis that may affect the outcome measurement and previous injury or surgery in the region of common extensor origin were excluded from this study.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with pain in the lateral epicondylar region, increased pain with pressure and resistance to wrist extension, persistence of symptoms for more than three months, no physical therapy interventions during the last three months

Exclusion criteria

• patients with bilateral tennis elbow, proximal radio-ulnar joint synovitis, radial nerve entrapment, cervical spine radiculopathy, other diseases like medial epicondylitis, impaired sensibility and paralysis that may affect the outcome measurement and previous injury or surgery in the region of common extensor origin