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NCT Number: NCT07654790

ESWT vs HILT in Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) and High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis.

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Key information

Age range

40 year–50 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

About this study

Participants will be randomly assigned into three groups receiving either conventional physiotherapy alone, ESWT plus conventional physiotherapy, or HILT plus conventional physiotherapy. Clinical assessments will be performed before and after treatment

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • • Age 40-50 years.
  • Clinically diagnosed chronic lateral epicondylitis.
  • Symptoms lasting more than 3 months.
  • Positive clinical provocation tests.
  • Localized tenderness over the lateral epicondyle.

Exclusion criteria

  • • Previous elbow surgery.
  • Corticosteroid injection within the last 6 months.
  • Cervical radiculopathy.
  • Peripheral nerve entrapment.
  • Rheumatologic or systemic inflammatory disorders.
  • Elbow fracture.
  • Severe elbow instability

Treatment and study plan

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

Device

The Group will receive ESWT plus conventional physiotherapy treatment program. Regarding ESWT protocol, the group will receive 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 pulses during the first, second, and third through fifth treatments, respectively (pressure, 2.5 bar; frequency, 8 Hz; energy density, 0.4 mJ/mm2). The patients received 5 ESWT treatments once per week. The treatments were performed using a Rosetta ESWT (CR Technology, Korea). Ultrasound gel was applied between the apparatus head and skin. The procedure was performed in the area with the most intense pain. Treatment was administered at the anterior aspect of the LE and three points around it at a radius of 1.5-2 cm. The treatment time did not exceed 10 minutes. During the treatments, the patients did not receive any drugs (Lizis, 2015).

Conventional physical therapy

Other

The conventional program will include TENS for twenty minutes in elbow region; the use of pulse ultrasound with duty cycle 80% on the lateral epicondyle for five minutes with an intensity of 0.8 W per every cm'; the use of ice for ten minutes; training for correcting the daily activities to minimize pressure on the elbow (preferentially, holding, lifting and pressing the objects will be asked to be carried out in supination); and, stretch and strain wrist muscle strengthening exercises (Fekri et al., 2019). The exercise therapy method involved six elbow joint exercises. They are a total of six exercises (Fig. 2) for patients with tennis elbow. Each exercise will be performed three times a day, with each session involving five repetitions of the movement, over four weeks, gradually increasing weight until the movement is effective but below the pain threshold. Painful movements will be avoided, and exercises causing pain or discomfort will be discontinued following consultation from a p

High-power intinsty laser

Device

The Group will receive HILT plus conventional physiotherapy treatment program. High-power laser used in the present research paper was MLS Laser, Model M6 (ASA), that will be included in class four lasers device, with maximum 25-Watt power, average power of 3.3 Watts, wavelength of 808 nm in a continuous state. The target region diameter in this device will be 5 cm and the energy used for treating the patients will be 272.4 Jules, and the energy density will be 13.89 Jules per cm' with a 700-hertz frequency for a period of three minutes on the lateral epicondyle and the origin of the wrist's extensor muscles (Fekri et al., 2019).

Primary outcomes

  1. 1. Pain intensity measured using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

    Time frame: at baseline 4 weeks and 8 weeks

  2. 2. Grip strength measured using Hand Dynamometer.

    Time frame: at baseline 4 weeks and 8 weeks

  3. 3. Upper limb disability measured using QuickDASH Questionnaire.

    Time frame: at baseline 4 weeks and 8 weeks

Secondary outcomes

  1. 1. Pressure Pain Threshold using Algometer.

    Time frame: at baseline 4 weeks and 8 weeks

  2. 2. Pinch Strength Measurement.

    Time frame: at baseline 4 weeks and 8 weeks

  3. 3. Elbow Range of Motion (ROM).

    Time frame: at baseline 4 weeks and 8 weeks

  4. 4. Oxford Elbow Score (OES).

    Time frame: at baseline 4 weeks and 8 weeks

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

mohammed ALI alghamdi

CONTACT

[email protected]

=966538500550

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Kafrelsheikh University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effectiveness of Shockwave Therapy Versus High-Power Laser Therapy in the Management of Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Acronym: ESWT vs HILT

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Jun 17, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 17, 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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