title: Effectiveness of myofascial release in the management of lateral epicondylitis in computer professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether myofascial release (MFR) reduces the pain and functional disability of lateral epicondylitis (LE) in comparison with a control group receiving sham ultrasound therapy in computer professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled, single blinded trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonprofit research foundation clinic in Kerala, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computer professionals (N=68) with LE.
  
  
  METHODS
  MFR group or control group. The techniques were administered by certified MFR practitioners and consisted of 12 sessions per client over 4 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) scale was used to assess pain severity and functional disability. The primary outcome measure was the difference in PRTEE scale scores between week 1 (pretest score), week 4 (posttest score), and follow-up at week 12 after randomization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The simple main effects analysis showed that the MFR group performed better than the control group in weeks 4 and 12 (P<.005). Patients in the MFR and control groups reported a 78.7% and 6.8% reduction, respectively, in their pain and functional disability in week 4 compared with that in week 1, which persisted as 63.1% in the follow-up at week 12 in the MFR group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides evidence that MFR is more effective than a control intervention for LE in computer professionals.
authors.affiliation: Myofascial Therapy and Research Foundation, Kerala, India. ajimshaw.ms@gmail.com
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ajimsha
authors.forename: Saraladevi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chithra
authors.forename: Ramiah Pillai
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Thulasyammal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003201:Computers; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008349:Manipulation, Orthopedic / Q000379:methods*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome