Shockwave Therapy Plus Exercise for Lateral Epicondylitis

This randomized, controlled, prospective clinical trial aims to compare the effectiveness of exercise therapy alone versus exercise therapy combined with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) in individuals diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis. The study is conducted at a single center and includes adult participants who meet predefined eligibility criteria.

Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups: an exercise-only group and an exercise-plus-ESWT group. Both groups follow a 4-week treatment program consisting of 12 sessions delivered three times per week. The exercise program includes isometric, isotonic, and stretching exercises targeting wrist extensors and related musculature. These exercises are demonstrated and supervised by physiotherapists, with participants encouraged to continue them as a home program.

In the intervention group, ESWT is administered once weekly for a total of four sessions. A radial-type ESWT device is used with preset parameters (2.0 bar pressure, 10 Hz frequency, 2000 pulses per session). All ESWT applications are performed by trained physiotherapists.

Clinical assessments occur at baseline and at the end of the 4-week intervention. Pain intensity, upper-extremity functional capacity, and condition-specific functional limitations are measured using validated outcome tools. Global improvement is also recorded at post-treatment to evaluate the participant's perceived benefit.

This study is designed to provide comparative data on the added value of ESWT when combined with a structured exercise program for the management of lateral epicondylitis, with the goal of informing clinical decision-making and optimizing treatment strategies.

Inclusion criteria

Individuals with the following characteristics will be included in the study:

• Being 18 years of age or older
• Having a clinical diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis
• Not having received any other similar treatment within the last 6 months
• Having the cognitive ability to understand the Turkish questionnaire and assessment forms
• Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study and providing written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Individuals with one or more of the following conditions will be excluded from the study:

• Having a history of concomitant systemic, rheumatological, or inflammatory diseases that could affect pain
• Having a history of trauma, surgery, or neurological disease in the upper extremity
• Presence of conditions other than lateral epicondylitis, such as tendinopathy, bursitis, or nerve entrapment
• Having major psychiatric disorders that could affect the pain threshold (e.g., major depression, schizophrenia)