title: The effects of a new designed forearm orthosis in treatment of lateral epicondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper reports on the design and testing of a new designed forearm orthosis and explores its efficacious in comparison to the standard counterforce orthosis in patients with lateral epicondylitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four patients were enrolled in this assessor-blinded clinical trial and randomly assigned to two parallel treatment groups. The measures of pain and function, the pain threshold and grip strength were compared using patient rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) form, algometer and dynamometer respectively at baseline and 4 weeks after treatment. Paired and independent t-test statistical methods recruited for within and between groups comparisons respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The both orthoses, counterforce and new-designed, significantly relieved pain, and improved function, pain threshold and grip strength of all patients after 4 weeks application. The new-designed orthosis seemed to be more effective than the counterforce orthosis in pain relief, but there was not any significant difference in efficacious of two types of orthoses regarding function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new-designed orthosis can significantly relieve pain, improve function, increase pain threshold and grip strength after application. This orthosis seemed to be more effective than counterforce orthosis in relieving pain and increasing the pain threshold probably due to the limitation of forearm supination.
authors: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. bijanfr@gmail.com
authors: Bijan
authors: B
authors: Forogh
authors: Mohsen
authors: M
authors: Khalighi
authors: Mohammad Ali
authors: MA
authors: Javanshir
authors: Kamiar
authors: K
authors: Ghoseiri
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Kamali
authors: Gholamreza
authors: G
authors: Raissi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005542:Forearm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D009989:Orthotic Devices / Q000592:standards*; D010808:Physical Examination; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*