Comparison of the Effects of Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, Steroid Injection and Physical Therapy in Lateral Epicondylitis
2 Sağlık Bakanlığı Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara
3 Sağlık Bakanlığı Ankara Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
4 Sağlık Bakanlığı Ankara Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, Ankara, Türkiye
Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of oral nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), physical therapy and local steroid injection in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis (LE).
Materials and Methods: Sixty patients with LE were included in this study. The patients were evaluated on initial visit, at 2nd and 4th weeks after treatment with the existence of tenderness on letarel epicondyle, grip strength and pain on elbow.
Results: There was not a statistically significant difference in presence of tenderness on the lateral epicondyle between groups at 2nd and 4th weeks after treatment (p=0.187, p=0.732). The 2nd week grip strength results were improved in physical therapy group compared to other groups (p=0.016), there was not a significant difference in the change at the 4th week results between groups with respect to baseline (p=0.276). Pain on elbow was decreased in physical therapy group compared to other groups at 2nd and 4th weeks after treatment (p=0.009, p=0.049).
Conclusion: NSAID, physical therapy and steroid injection are effective and safe methods. However physical therapy demonstrates superiority, treatments should be considered according to patients’ choice and possible appropriate methods.
Keywords : Lateral epicondylitis, steroid injection, physical therapy