Affiliations: [a] Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey | [b] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Turkey
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Aycan Cakmak Reyhan, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey. Tel.: +90 5336483274; E-mail: aycan.cakmak@bilgi.edu.tr.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is a common problem of the arm. Mulligan has proposed the use of mobilization with movement for LE. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of Mulligan’s mobilization with movement (MWM) in LE. METHODS: Forty patients were included in the study and randomly assigned to group 1 (n= 20), who received MWM, exercise and cold therapy, or group 2 (n= 20), who received exercise and cold therapy. The sessions were conducted five times a week for two weeks. All measures were conducted at baseline, after treatment, at 1st and 3rd months follow-ups. Mann-Whitney U test, a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain intensity, Patient-rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) Questionnaire for pain intensity and functional disability and a dynamometer for hand grip strength were applied. RESULTS: VAS activity pain significantly decreased in group 1 after treatment (p= 0.001), at the 1st (p< 0.001) and 3rd months (p= 0.040). There was a significant decrease in VAS night pain in group 1 (p= 0.024), and a significant increase in pain-free grip strength (p= 0.002) after treatment. PRTEE-Pain scores decreased in group 1 after treatment (p< 0.001), 1st (p< 0.001) and 3rd months (p= 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MWM plus exercise and cold therapy is a safe and effective alternative with positive effects on elbow pain, functional capacity, and pain-free, maximum grip strength.
