Comparing the Effectiveness of the 'Think in Nerve Length and Layers' (TINLL) Approach to Traditional Treatment for Patients With Lateral Elbow Pain.
University of Vermont
Summary
Lateral elbow pain can significantly limit people's ability to do the activities they want or need to do. We want to explore if one treatment technique is better than another for people with lateral elbow pain. You will be placed in a traditional treatment group or in a non-traditional treatment group. Your placement in the group will depend on past treatments you have had for this pain. Before you start treatment, you will be given four tests: 1) a grip strength test, 2) a pinch test, 3) a pain level survey, and 4) a functional survey. These four tests will take no longer than 15 minutes to complete. These four tests are common tests given to people with elbow pain. You will be given these four tests: * At the beginning, before you start treatment * At 2-weeks * At 4-weeks * At the end of your treatment Traditional treatment group: You will receive treatment 1x/week for 4-6 weeks. The traditional treatment group will consist of the following treatments: * stretching and strengthening of the wrist extensors * soft tissue work to the forearm muscles * joint mobilization at the elbow * rigid and elastic taping with focus on the wrist extensor muscles * ergonomic strategies * transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) * wrist splinting Non-traditional (TINLL) treatment group: You will receive treatment 1x/every 1-2-weeks for 4-6 weeks. The non-traditional (TINLL) treatment group will consist of the following treatments: * joint and tendon mobilization at the elbow * elastic tape for muscles and nerves * stretching/strengthening of the muscles at the elbow and upper arm * ergonomic strategies
Description
Upon referral for lateral elbow pain, two schedulers will look at the referral and consult with the study co-investigators to decide what group they should be assigned to based on past medical treatment for lateral elbow pain. The schedulers will have a script they read over the phone to the patients. This will be part of the usual call. At this point, patients do not need to decide whether or not to participate; they are just introduced to the study. Upon arrival for their appointment, the scheduler will introduce the study again to the patient and the patient will be given the opportunity to…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * understanding of English language; adults 18 years of age or older * referral for lateral sided elbow pain or lateral epicondylitis * subjects positive on one of the following (tenderness over lateral epicondyle with palpation * pain with stretch of long wrist extensors * pain with resisted wrist or middle finger extension) Exclusion Criteria: * subjects unable to cognitively follow directions * have a legally-mandated reporter * subjects scheduled for surgery, or post-up surgical patients * subjects with carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome/medial elbow pai…
Interventions
- OtherTINLL techniques for relieving radial nerve tension
1x/week for 4-6 weeks or less if patient responds well to the treatment
- OtherTraditional techniques to stretch and strengthen muscles
1x/week for 4-6 weeks unless patients responds well to treatment
Location
- Orthopedica and Rehabilitation Center - Occupational Therapy/Hand Therapy, University of Vermont Medical CenterSouth Burlington, Vermont