Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Lateral epicondylopathy (LE) is a common overuse injury affecting elbow, wrist, and hand function. It is characterized by weakness and pain in the muscles and tendons of the forearm responsible for the extension of your wrist and fingers. Trigger point dry needling is a technique reported to be beneficial in managing pain and dysfunction after LE diagnosis. LE is also commonly treated with conservative treatment, such as joint and soft tissue mobilization, self-care home programs, and anti-inflammatory use. We explored a different dry needling approach consisting of in situ dry needling with electric stimulation combined with targeted therapeutic exercise to treat LE in 3 cases.
METHODS: Three patients were referred for dry needling once a week for 6 weeks and home-based exercise therapy for LE. They were clinically evaluated using grip strength, a visual analog scale to assess pain, and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Test scores. These were measured at 4 time points (weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6).
METHODS: The dry needling intervention incorporated 8 locations in the upper-extremity with 2 electric stimulation channels. The patients had reduced pain as measured by a visual analog scale, increased function as measured by the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Test, and increased grip strength over 6 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS: This case series illustrates the use of dry needling and a home exercise program to provide a favorable outcome in a patient with LE. Patients had an 80% to 100% reduction in pain and similar improvements in function that were significantly beyond the minimum clinically important difference. This dry needling approach is a safe and effective treatment of LE in the short term.
METHODS: Three patients were referred for dry needling once a week for 6 weeks and home-based exercise therapy for LE. They were clinically evaluated using grip strength, a visual analog scale to assess pain, and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Test scores. These were measured at 4 time points (weeks 0, 2, 4, and 6).
METHODS: The dry needling intervention incorporated 8 locations in the upper-extremity with 2 electric stimulation channels. The patients had reduced pain as measured by a visual analog scale, increased function as measured by the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Test, and increased grip strength over 6 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS: This case series illustrates the use of dry needling and a home exercise program to provide a favorable outcome in a patient with LE. Patients had an 80% to 100% reduction in pain and similar improvements in function that were significantly beyond the minimum clinically important difference. This dry needling approach is a safe and effective treatment of LE in the short term.
摘要：
背景：外侧上髁病（LE）是影响肘部的常见过度使用损伤，手腕,手的功能。它的特征是前臂的肌肉和肌腱无力和疼痛，负责手腕和手指的伸展。触发点干针法是一种据报道有益于治疗LE诊断后疼痛和功能障碍的技术。LE通常也采用保守治疗，如关节和软组织动员，自我护理家庭计划，和抗炎使用。我们探索了一种不同的干针法，包括原位干针法和电刺激结合靶向治疗运动，以治疗3例LE。
方法：3名患者接受每周一次干针治疗，持续6周，并接受以家庭为基础的LE运动疗法。使用握力对它们进行临床评估，视觉模拟量表来评估疼痛，和患者额定网球肘评估测试成绩。这些在4个时间点(第0、2、4和6周)测量。
方法：干针刺干预在上肢的8个位置结合了2个电刺激通道。通过视觉模拟量表测量，患者疼痛减轻，通过患者额定网球肘评估测试测得的功能增强，并在6周内增加握力。
结论：本病例系列说明了使用干针法和家庭锻炼计划为LE患者提供良好的结果。患者的疼痛减轻了80％至100％，功能改善相似，显着超出了最小的临床重要差异。这种干针刺方法在短期内是LE的安全有效的治疗方法。
方法：3名患者接受每周一次干针治疗，持续6周，并接受以家庭为基础的LE运动疗法。使用握力对它们进行临床评估，视觉模拟量表来评估疼痛，和患者额定网球肘评估测试成绩。这些在4个时间点(第0、2、4和6周)测量。
方法：干针刺干预在上肢的8个位置结合了2个电刺激通道。通过视觉模拟量表测量，患者疼痛减轻，通过患者额定网球肘评估测试测得的功能增强，并在6周内增加握力。
结论：本病例系列说明了使用干针法和家庭锻炼计划为LE患者提供良好的结果。患者的疼痛减轻了80％至100％，功能改善相似，显着超出了最小的临床重要差异。这种干针刺方法在短期内是LE的安全有效的治疗方法。
