Treatment practice in chronic epicondylitis: a survey among general practitioners and physiotherapists in Uppsala County, Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate treatment practice among general practitioners (GPs) and physiotherapists (PTs) in chronic epicondylitis of 3 months' duration or more.


METHODS
Postal survey.


METHODS
All 129 GPs and all 77 PTs at 35 primary health care centres in Uppsala County, Sweden, received the questionnaire.


METHODS
Proportion of responders using various treatments (five specified alternatives + open question).


RESULTS
The questionnaire was answered by 70% of the GPs and 61% of the PTs. Ergonomic counselling, stretching, and orthotic devices were common, and used to a similar extent by GPs and PTs. Acupuncture was also common, but less so among GPs than PTs. Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation was used by relatively few GPs and PTs. The open question revealed that dynamic exercise, particularly eccentric, was used by most PTs but only one GP. A majority of GPs prescribed sick leave and anti-inflammatory treatment with an NSAID or cortisone injections.


CONCLUSIONS
A large number of treatment methods in chronic epicondylitis were reported, none of which is properly evidence-based and some of which are even known to be ineffective. There is a need for randomized controlled studies of potentially effective treatments in this condition.
Peterson
Magnus
M
Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology Section, Uppsala University, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden. magnus.peterson@pubcare.uu.se
Elmfeldt
Dag
D
Svärdsudd
Kurt
K
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal