title: Pattern Differentiation of Lateral Elbow Pain in Traditional Chinese Medicine: A Systematic Review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses a sophisticated diagnostic system called pattern differentiation, which allows for the tailor-made treatment of individuals.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify the commonly used TCM patterns for lateral elbow pain (LEP), as well as the clinical features associated with these patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Journal literature in 15 major Chinese and English databases and textbooks from five medical libraries as well as Chinamaxx were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five hundred and fifty-five full-text journal articles, as well as 465 textbooks, were retrieved for further assessment, but only eight studies and seven books that mentioned LEP patterns could be identified and included in this study. The top four patterns that were identified were the wind-cold-dampness pattern, the qi stagnation and blood stasis pattern, the dual deficiency of qi and blood pattern, and the retained dampness-heat pattern, each of which was associated with unique features that were made up of distinct signs and symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The unique features identified for each of the major patterns might be the key to understanding TCM individualized treatment based on pattern differentiation. Furthermore, the approach taken in studying TCM pattern of LEP may also be useful for studying the TCM patterns of other musculoskeletal conditions.
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong SAR, China .
authors.forename: Marcus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gadau
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong SAR, China .
authors.forename: Shi-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong SAR, China .
authors.forename: Ho-Yin
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: 2 School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China .
authors.forename: Wing-Fai
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong SAR, China .
authors.forename: Zhao-Xiang
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: 1 School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong SAR, China .
authors.forename: Ai-Ping
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: 3 College of TCM, University of Technology Sydney , Sydney, Australia .
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zaslawski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004550:Elbow / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000070639:Elbow Tendinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: Traditional Chinese Medicine; acupuncture; epicondylitis; pattern differentiation; systematic review; tennis elbow