Effectiveness of radial pressure waves in lateral epicondylalgia in physically active patients: apropos of two cases

Abstract

Lateral epicondylalgia or tennis elbow is one of the most common injuries of the elbow joint complex, with repetitive microtrauma being the main cause of injury. The non-operative approach by extracorporeal shock waves (ESWT) is the ideal physiotherapeutic treatment for chronic tendinopathies. The present case report aims to justify a physiotherapeutic proposal made in two physically active patients of 62 and 57 years, known as healthy, with symptomatology of pain, functional reduction and decrease of the force of the grip. Both patients present lateral epicondylalgia due to the overload of the carpal extensor musculature secondary to physical activity. After the physiotherapeutic evaluation that included special tests, functional assessment and grip force was applied a ESWT protocol once a week, with an initial dose of 2.5 bar and final 4.7 bar, with 2000 shots in each session, patients had between 3 and 6 sessions in total. Both patients had a total recovery from pain, negative special final tests, overall improvement in grip strength and functional capacity. It is concluded that physiotherapeutic treatment with ESWT in lateral epicondylalgia is an effective first-line alternative for the reduction of signs and complete functional recovery of patients with this condition.