Effects of Taping on Pain, Grip Strength and Wrist Extension Force in Patients with Tennis Elbow

Abstract

BackgroundTennis elbow (TE) is a common musculotendinous degenerative disorder of the extensor origin at the lateral humeral epicondyle. Different modes of treatment are used for management of tennis elbow.ObjectivesThis study investigated the effect of the taping technique (TT) on pain, grip strength and wrist extension force in treatment of tennis elbow.Patients and MethodsThirty patients (16 men /14 women with a mean age of 32.2 years) with tennis elbow of their dominant arm participated in this study. Outcome measures were assessment of pain at the lateral aspect of the elbow, grip strength and wrist extension force before and five to ten minutes after application of elbow tape on the affected and unaffected arms. A Visual Analog Scale was used to assess pain. A dynamometer and a hand-held dynamometer were used for evaluation of grip strength and wrist extension force, respectively.ResultsAmong the variables, significant differences were found in wrist extension forces between effected and unaffected arms (P = 0.02). Changes in grip strength showed statically significant improvements in the affected arm compared to the unaffected arm (P = 0.03). Also, in assessment of pain at the lateral epicondyle, the mean change between affected and unaffected arms was significant, with P = 0.001.ConclusionsThe taping technique, as applied in this study demonstrates an impressive effect on wrist extension force and grip strength of patients with TE. Elbow taping also reduces pain at the lateral aspect of the elbow in these patients.

Effect of taping techniques on pain and grip strength in patients with lateral epicondylitis

“…Our findings were in agreement with the previous studies which involving diamond taping for lateral epicondylalgia by Shamsoddini and Hollisaz [10], and Vicenzino et al, [12]. Also, Goel et al, concluded that, athletic tape and KT equally effective in gaining short term benefits in lateral epicondylalgia [11].…”

“…Patients were excluded if they had dominant hand fracture through the last year, neuromuscular diseases, rheumatoid or degenerative diseases of the dominant hand, any upper-limb neurological abnormalities, allergies to adhesive tape, previous surgery to elbow and/or congenital or acquired deformities of the elbow [10][11][12]. All participants signed a consent form approved by the ethical committee of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, before the beginning of the study.…”

“…The eligible patients should have pain experienced over the lateral epicondyle in at least one of the following tests: resisted static contraction of wrist extensors or passive stretching of the wrist extensors, first time unilateral LE for greater than 6 weeks and the patient had not been previously treated [10][11][12].…”

“…The strips overlapped at their ends and were secured with an additional 4 tape strips. The tapes were applied in sitting with the elbow in a slightly flexed position [10,12]. Patients in both groups were instructed to leave the tape in place for 5 days.…”

“…Previous studies have been investigated only the short-term effects of different taping techniques on pain and grip strength in patients with LE without any complementary physical therapy program [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”