title: Effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on functional and strength recovery of handgrip in patients affected by epicondylitis.
abstract: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is effective in the treatment of tendinopathy. We designed a prospective observational clinical study to assess the correlation between clinical and functional measures and recovery of strength after ESWT for epicondylitis. We analyzed 26 patients. We measured progressive improvement in visual analogue scale values (p < 0.0005) and Mayo Elbow Performance Index scores (p = 0.004) for the pathologic limb. Monitoring of handgrip failed to reveal changes in values at any follow-up (p > 0.05). We found no correlation between degree of clinical function and muscle deficit during follow-up. After ESWT, there was a tendency toward a decrease in grip strength, especially in the dominant limb. This could be related to the effects of ESWT, which reduces spasticity in painful hypertonic muscles. These data may be useful in defining the expectations for function during ESWT for epicondylitis, particularly for elite athletes.
authors.affiliation: Course on Motor and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, Bari, Italy; Orthopedics Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Organs of Sense, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, General Hospital, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: angelanotarnicola@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Notarnicola
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Organs of Sense, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, General Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Livio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quagliarella
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Organs of Sense, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, General Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sasanelli
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Organs of Sense, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, General Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maccagnano
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Organs of Sense, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, General Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fracella
authors.affiliation: Orthopedics Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Organs of Sense, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, General Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Immacolata
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Forcignanò
authors.affiliation: Course on Motor and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, Bari, Italy; Orthopedics Section, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Organs of Sense, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, General Hospital, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Biagio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moretti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Epicondylitis; Extracorporeal shock waves therapy; Grip strength; Hypertonic muscles