THE EFFECT OF DEEP FRICTION MASSAGE ON PAIN, STRENGTH AND DAILY LIFE SKILLS OF PATIENTS WITH LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of deep massage on pain, function and grip strength in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Patients and Methods: 54 patients (30 females and 24 males; the average age of control group was 49.7±9.4 and the average age of experimental group was 43.1±9.4) having applied to outpatient clinic with elbow pain complaint and diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis were accepted to the study. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups, with 27 patients in each group. Both groups were treated with classical therapy methods such as, hot pack, ultrasound, TENS. In addition, deep friction massage was applied to experimental group.

Measurements are conducted prior to treatment and during treatment of 15 courses. Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, hydraulic hand dynamometer for grip strength and Quick Dash assessment questionnaire for daily life skills are used as evaluation criteria. Hot pack is performed for 20 minutes, ultrasound is performed for 5 minutes and TENS is performed for 20 minutes to the area with lateral epicondylitis on control group in each course. Deep friction massage is applied to experimental group for 5 minutes every day in addition to the treatment conducted for control group.

Findings: Post-treatment VAS scores relating to pain at rest, pain at night and activity pain were decreased in both groups in comparison with pre-treatment scores. Decrease observed in pain at rest and activity pain following the treatment was more significant in experimental group (p values were 0.003 and 0.001, respectively). Pre-treatment grip strength was 22 kg on average in both groups. It was measured as 32 kg for control group and as 40 kg for experimental group after the treatment (p = 0.002). Values obtained for daily life skills were also better in experimental group (P = 0.024).

Conclusion: We concluded that more successful results can be obtained if and when deep friction massage was added to the classical physical therapy methods conducted for patients with humerus lateral epicondylitis.