Comparative Efficacy of Exercise Therapy versus Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs in Treating Lateral Epicondylitis

Aim and background. Lateral epicondylitis (LE), commonly known as tennis elbow, is characterized by pain and reduced elbow function due to overuse of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle. This study evaluates the effectiveness of exercise therapy in improving grip strength and electromyography (EMG) patterns of the ECRB muscle in LE patients. Materials and methods. Sixty participants with LE were randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving NSAIDs and home exercises (EG-A) and the other performing specific tennis elbow exercises (EG-B) for 12 weeks. Outcome measures included PainFree Grip (PFG), Maximum Grip Strength (MGS), PRTEE, NPRS, and sEMG amplitude of the ECRB muscle. Statistical analysis using SPSS version 20 compared pre- and post-intervention results, with a significance level of 0.05 to evaluate the hypothesis. Results. Significant pain reduction was observed in both groups, with greater reduction in EG-A. Both groups showed improved functionality and symptoms, with more pronounced improvement in EG-A. Grip strength and maximum grip strength increased in both groups, with larger improvements in EG-A. EMG amplitude of muscle activity also notably increased in both groups, with a higher increase in EG-A. Conclusions. The structured exercise therapy program significantly improved grip strength and muscle activation in LE patients. EG-A, which included both conservative treatment and specific exercises, showed greater improvements compared to EG-B, highlighting the effectiveness of tailored exercise interventions in managing LE. These findings advocate for incorporating tailored exercise programs into standard LE treatment protocols to enhance functional recovery and neuromuscular efficiency.