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The initial effects of an elbow mobilization with movement technique on grip strength in subjects with lateral epicondylalgia

2001; Elsevier BV; Volume: 6; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1054/math.2001.0408

1532-2769

J. Haxby Abbott, Catherine Patla, Richard Jensen,

Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment

This preliminary study indicates the proportion of patients with lateral epicondylalgia that demonstrate a favourable initial response to a manual therapy technique – the mobilization with movement (MWM) for tennis elbow. Twenty-five subjects with lateral epicondylalgia participated. In a one-group pretest – post-test design, we measured (1) pain with active motion, (2) pain-free grip strength and, (3) maximum grip strength before and after a single intervention of MWM. Results of the study indicate that MWM was effective in allowing 92% of subjects to perform previously painful movements pain-free, and improving grip strength immediately afterwards. Significant differences were found between the grip strength of the affected and unaffected limbs prior to the intervention. Both pain-free grip strength and maximum grip strength of the affected limb increased significantly following the intervention. Pain-free grip strength increased by a greater magnitude than maximum grip strength. It can be concluded that MWM is a promising intervention modality for the treatment of patients with Lateral Epicondylalgia. Pain-free grip strength is a more responsive measure of outcome than maximum grip strength for patients with Lateral Epicondylalgia. Further research is warranted to investigate the long-term effectiveness of MWM in the treatment of impairment and disability resulting from Lateral Epicondylalgia.