A Study to Compare the effectiveness of different Dosage of Therapeutic Ultrasound on Pain and Grip Strength in Patients with Lateral Epicondylitis

Purpose of study: To compare the effectiveness of different dosage of therapeutic ultrasound on pain using Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) and grip strength using jamar hand dynamometer (kg) in patients with lateral epicondylitis (LE).

Materials and Method: A comparative study was conducted on 45 patients with LE (age- 30 to 55 years, male and female) who complained of pain from 1 week to 4 months were selected by convenient sampling method from civil hospital and K.K Sheth physiotherapy college in Rajkot.Patients were assigned randomly into three groups. Measurements of pain and Grip strength were taken prior to the test. Ultrasound (US) was given with Frequency- 1 MHz, duration 7 min, for 7 days for three groups with variable mode and intensity as explained. Group A: Mode- Continuous, Intensity- 1.5 W/Cm2, Group B: Mode- Pulsed 1:4, Intensity- 1.0 W/Cm2, Group C: Mode- Pulsed 1:1, Intensity 0.8 W/cm2. Post treatment measurement of pain and Grip strength were taken.

Results: The obtained data were calculated using Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test and Kruskal-Wallis Test which suggested that there is a significant decrease in NPRS. Student's paired t test and Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test suggested there is a significant increase in grip strength after the application of different dosages of ultrasound for all the Groups (A, B, C). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS version 14.0.

Conclusion: The study concluded that all three dosages of therapeutic ultrasound are effective to reduce the pain and improve the grip strength in patients with LE. However continuous mode showed a better effect as compared to other dosages in patients with LE.