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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07146620

Effectiveness of Radial Nerve Mobilization for Chronic Epicondylalgia

Effectiveness of radial nerve mobilization techniques and their interfaces for treating chronic epicondylalgia

Intervention: This is a randomized controlled clinical trial that will evaluate the effectiveness of adding radial nerve and its interface mobilization techniques to conventional musculoskeletal treatment.

Participants: Patients over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of chronic epicondylalgia and a positive radial nerve neurodynamic test. Those with previous infiltrations, concomitant pathologies, or contraindications will be excluded.

Study Groups:

* Control Group (n=23): Will receive conventional musculoskeletal treatment. * Intervention Group (n=23): Will receive the same conventional treatment plus mobilization of the radial nerve and its interfaces.

Primary Outcomes:

* Pain (NPRS). * Pain and functionality (PRTEE). * Pressure pain threshold (Algometry). * Pain-free grip strength (Dynamometry). * Central sensitization (CSI). Assessments will be conducted at baseline, one week after the last treatment, and 3 months after the last treatment.

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Key information

Conditions

Tennis Elbow Arm Injuries Elbow Injuries Elbow Tendinopathy Muscular Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Physical Therapy Modalities Tendinopathy Tendon Injuries Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Barcelona, Spain

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Age: Over 18 years old.
  • Clinical diagnosis of lateral epicondylalgia.
  • Chronic epicondylalgia symptoms for at least 3 months.
  • Positive radial nerve neurodynamic test
  • Signed informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

  • Infiltrations for CE within at least 3 months prior to the study.
  • Concomitant problems or mobility issues of the upper limb or cervical spine.
  • Contraindications specific to Diacutaneous Fibrolysis or neural mobilization.
  • Difficulty understanding and signing the informed consent form.

Treatment and study plan

Forearm massage

Other

A general massage of the forearm will be performed. The physical therapist perform deep, longitudinal strokes. Pressure will be maintained at a level the patient finds comfortable for 3 minutes.

Other names: Soft Tissue Mobilization of the Forearm

Pressure release for forearm trigger points

Other

Pressure will be applied to trigger points in the forearm. This will be done in three sets of 30-second applications, with 30 seconds of rest between each.

Other names: Trigger point therapy for the forearm, Ischemic compression of forearm trigger point

Mulligan mobilization with movement technique

Other

A lateromedial glide will be performed. The technique will be applied for three sets of 10 repetitions, with 30 seconds of rest between each set.

Other names: Mobilization with Movement (MWM)

Radial Nerve Neurodynamic Mobilization

Other

Three sets of 30 nerve glides will be performed at a rhythm of one second of tension followed by one second of rest. There will be 30 seconds of rest between sets.

Other names: Radial Nerve Glides

Diacutaneous fibrolysis (Real)

Other

A real technique of Diacutaneous fibrolysis will be applied to the forearm region for 5 minutes.

Other names: Diacutaneous fibrolysis

Diacutaneous Fibrolysis (Sham)

Other

A sham Diacutaneous Fibrolysis technique (skin pinch) will be applied to the forearm region for 5 minutes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Pain Intensity

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment (4 weeks), and to the end of the study at 16 weeks.

    Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Score from 0 to 10. Zero is equivalent to no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pain and Functional Disability

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment (4 weeks), and to the end of the study at 16 weeks.

    Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation. Score from 0 to 100. Higher score indicates more pain and functional disability and zero indicates no pain and disability.

  2. Handgrip

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment (4 weeks), and to the end of the study at 16 weeks.

    Grip strength is assessed in kilograms. The value used is the average of three repetitions.

  3. Pressure pain threshold - Elbow

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment (4 weeks), and to the end of the study at 16 weeks.

    Pressure pain threshold at the elbow. The lowest intensity of pressure that the subject perceives as pain when applied to the lateral epicondyle is recorded. The value used will be in kilograms per square centimeter.

  4. Pressure pain threshold - short radial extensor

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment (4 weeks), and to the end of the study at 16 weeks.

    Pressure pain threshold at the Short radial extensor.The lowest intensity of pressure that the subject perceives as pain when applied to the short radial extensor is used. The value used will be in kilograms per square centimeter.

  5. Pressure pain threshold - Radial nerve

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment (4 weeks), and to the end of the study at 16 weeks.

    Pressure pain threshold at the radial nerve. It is used to record the lowest intensity of pressure that the subject perceives as pain when applied to the radial nerve tunnel. The value used will be in kilograms per square centimeter.

  6. Central sensitization syndrome

    Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment (4 weeks), and to the end of the study at 16 weeks.

    Central Sensitization Inventory. The questionnaire is scored on a scale from 0 to 100. A score above 40 is considered to indicate central sensitization.

  7. Subjective perception of clinical evolution

    Time frame: From the 4 week to the end of study at 16 weeks

    Global Rating of Change scale. The scale consists of 15 points, ranging from -7 ("Much worse") to +7 ("Much better"). For clinical interpretation, values below "Somewhat better" or "Somewhat worse" are considered clinically unchanged. Values greater than or equal to "Somewhat better" are considered clinically improved, and values greater than "Somewhat worse" are considered clinically worsened.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Radial Nerve Mobilization Techniques and Their Interfaces for Treating Chronic Epicondylalgia

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Aug 28, 2025
Registry last updated
May 4, 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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