Comparison between prolozone therapy and extracorporeal shockwave therapy in management of pain and function in resistant cases of lateral epicondylitis: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background: Lateral epicondylitis also known as the tennis elbow is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse. The disease imparts significant disability to those affected in terms of the quantity and quality of work done.Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, RIMS, Imphal for a period of 1 year from February 2017 to January 2018. Eighty-four patients with resistant lateral epicondylitis recruited were divided into 2 groups- group A received Prolozone injection while group B underwent Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT).Results: Assessments of VAS (Visual Analog Scale) and PRTEE (Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation) were done at 8 weeks and 24 weeks. The mean VAS score in Prolozone group improved from 7.22±0.89 to 4.04±1.01 at 8 weeks to 1.67±0.70 at end of 24 weeks. In ESWT group, mean VAS score improved to 3.91±0.72 at 8 weeks and reduced to 2.3±0.68 at end of 24 weeks. PRTEE improved significantly in both the groups, from 85.33±3.29 to 24.87±2.10 in Prolozone group, and from 85.17±2.83 to 41.89±3.17 in ESWT group.Conclusions: The improvement in pain and disability is better in prolozone group than ESWT (p<0.05) in chronic lateral epicondylitis.

Observation and Nursing of the Therapeutic Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Tennis Elbow

“…By accurately determining the location of pain in patients with shock waves, local treatment relies on mechanical stress effects, piezoelectric effects, pain relief, etc. (Singh & Ningthemba, 2022).…”