SHORT AND MEDIUM-TERM EFFECTS OF A PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRAM INCLUDING DIACUTANEOUS FIBROLYSIS TECHNIQUE FOR CHRONIC LATERAL EPICONDYLALGIA. NON-CONTROLLED CLINICAL TRIAL

Abstract

Background: lateral epicondylalgia is a tendinopathy caused by overuse of the forearm muscles. Incapacity to work is relatively frequent, with up to 12 weeks of sick leave. Published reviews show an inconclusive or limited evidence of conservative treatment at short term. Dia cutaneous fibrolysis (DF) provides good results on other musculoskeletal diseases, but it has not been evaluated on this condition. Objective: to evaluate the short and medium-term effects of physical therapy protocol including Dia cutaneous fibrolysis on pain, grip strength and function in subjects affected with chronic lateral epicondylalgia. Material and method: non-controlled clinical trial, conducted in a public primary care center. Patients received 15 daily sessions of a physical therapy protocol including DF in six of these sessions. Variables measured at baseline, at the end of the treatment period, and three months later were pain intensity (VAS), pressure-pain threshold (algometry), pain-free hand grip strength (dynamometry), disability (DASH), and subjective appreciation of clinical change (GROC-scale). Results: four women and six men were recruited. A statistically significant improvement was obtained in all the variables (p < 0.02) except for the pressure-pain threshold at the end of the treatment period. Improvement persisted three months later. A clinically significant improvement according to the GROC-scale was expressed by 90.9% of the participants. Conclusions: a physio-therapy protocol that includes DF provides good short-term and medium-term results in the treatment of lateral epicondylalgia, with a high patient satisfaction. Studies with a control group, larger sample size and short/medium/long term follow-up are needed to draw definitive conclusions.