The comparison of ESWT and ESWT+kinesio taping treatments in lateral epicondylitis

Aim: Investigation the effectivity of ESWT in lateral epicondylitis with scientific results and is to investigate whether the combination of ESWT and kinesio taping in physical therapy applications is superior to ESWT alone. Material and Method: The study was performed on 96 patients (69 woman, 27 man) who were diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis. Patients were divided into two groups. Technique 1 group were applied ESWT with 2.0 bar pressure 8-10 unit speed 2000 shock wave to lateral epicondyle in three seans and then were used taping to forearm the inhibition technique with %15-25 strength which is comman in lateral epicondylitis treatment. The technique 2 group were applied only ESWT device to lateral epicondyle with 2.0 bar pressure 8-10 unit speed with 2000 shock wave. Before the treatment, before the 2nd treatment, before the 3rd treatment and after 4 weeks at the end of the treatments in male and female patients between their gender were evaluated rest, resistance wrist extension and pain with palpation evaluated with VAS (Visuel analog scala) and HAQ (Health assessment questionnaire) used in the general health assessment. The datas were given by median (min-maks). Shapiro-wilk test, Mann-Whitney U test, Friedman test, Wilcoxon test were used in statistical analyses. P <0.05 was accepted as statistically significant and IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0 program was used in analysis. Results: With method 1, it was determined that pain reduction in resistant wrist extension was more effective than method 2 in the treatment of male patients. With method 1, a more significant difference was found in the evaluation of palpation with pain in the treatment of female patients than method 2. Significant improvements were determined in all other parameters, but no statistical difference was noted. Conclusion: The widely used ESWT method in lateral epicondylitis was found to be effective in healing. It has been concluded that the method of kinesio taping is also effective in increasing the proprioceptive healing in females and reducing the pain in men with resistant wrist extension and applying this method as a supportive treatment together with ESWT method. Key words: Lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow, ESWT, Kinesio taping.