Comparison of effects of deep friction massage and Mills manipulation on patients with lateral epicondylitis

The aim of this study is to compare the effects of Mills manipulation and deep friction massage on patients with lateral epicondylitis. There are 40 volunteers with lateral epicondylitis (F/M=22/18, 41,50 ±8,49 years) who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Structured forms including height, weight, age, and gender of patients were filled out. The patients were randomized by computer assisted randomization method and divided to Deep friction massage group (n = 20, F / M = 13/7, 42,80 ± 9,21 years) and Mills group (n = 20, F / M = 9/11, 40,20 ± 7,73 years). Deep friction massage was performed transversely to the tendon on patients who are in DFM (Deep friction massage) group for 10 minutes every other day. Mills manipulation was performed to the patients who are in Mills group every session. Both groups received TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) on the elbow joint (100 microseconds pulse duration-80Hz - 20 minutes), US (Therapeutic ultrasound) in circular motions (1 MHz - 5 minutes), additionally wrist stretching exercises (in the direction of flexion and extension for 1 minute- 3 repetitions) and strengthening exercises (10 repetitions-3 sets with free weights) were performed for the wrist extensor muscles. The treatments were performed for 3 weeks, 5 days per week for all patients. All patients were evaluated with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain assessment, Duruöz Hand Index (DHI) for functional assessment and Short Form-36 (SF-36) for quality of life assessment, besides grip strength and wrist joint range of motion measurements were taken at the beginning and end of the study. In both groups, significant improvement was observed in grip strength, wrist joint ranges, VAS and Duruöz Hand Index measurements and all subscales except the "social functioning" subscale of SF-36 questionnaire after the treatment. (p<0,05) The post-treatment scores of the "social functioning" subscale of SF-36 questionnaire did not show a significant difference in both groups. (p>0,05) When the groups were compared for the amount of improvement, any significant difference was not observed between the groups. (p>0,05) As a result of this study, it was not found any superiority between deep friction massage and Mills manipulation methods on lateral epicondylitis treatment.