Efficacy of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) and Kinesio Taping in Patients With Lateral Epicondylitis

Primary outcomes

1. Pain-free grip strength

   Time frame: 12 week

   Hand grasping force with hand dynamometer was evaluated. The grip force was measured with the hand dynamometer as the maximum grip force, while the patient was sitting in the chair with 0 degrees of abduction and neutral position and the elbow with 90 degrees of flexion. Both sides were firstly measured on 2 sides and then averaged. 30 second rest periods were given between measurements.Patients were assessed for outcome measures at screening, after treatment (day 10) and 12th week after the treatment.

2. Pain severity at rest, night and forced wrist extension test

   Time frame: 12 week

   Pain was evaluated with a 10 cm scale horizantal VAS. The head of the line was painless and the end was the most severe pain. The patient was asked to mark the most appropriate location for pain on the scale. Pain severity at rest, at night and forced wrist extension test was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS). Patients were assessed for outcome measures at screening, after treatment (day 10) and 12th week after the treatment.

3. Pressure pain threshold

   Time frame: 12 week

   Pressure pain threshold was evaluated by algometer. The pressure pain threshold was measured at the lateral epicondyle with an algae before starting with a painless side in both extremities. Algometer is an instrument that measures the pain threshold and pain tolerance objectively. In the sitting position, the shoulder is evaluated at 30 ° abduction, and the elbow at 90 ° flexion over the lateral epicondyle (1 cm 2 area).

   In our study, the algometer was applied vertically to the most painful point by increasing the pressure by 1 kg / cm2 every 3 seconds until the patient felt pain. The pressure value that caused the pain feeling was determined as the pain threshold. In the 20-second intervals, the lowest pressure value was taken as the pain threshold between the three measurements. Patients were assessed for outcome measures at screening, after treatment (day 10) and 12th week after the treatment.

4. Patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE)

   Time frame: 12 week

   Patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE)was used to determine functional status. The PRTEE (Patient Based Inventory Evaluation Questionnaire) is a practical questionnaire that measures elbow pain and function and has been validated in lateral epicondylitis. It consists of a total of 15 questions about pain, function and daily activities. In our study, pain, function and total score were calculated for each patient. The pain score is obtained by summing the points given to the 5 questions related to the pain in the affected arm (minimum score 0, maximum score 50). Function score is obtained by dividing the scores of 10 questions evaluating the function in the affected arm and dividing by 2 (minimum score 0, maximum score 50). The total score is the sum of the pain score and function score (minimum score 0, maximum score of 100).Patients were assessed for outcome measures at screening, after treatment (day 10) and 12th week after the treatment.