title: Efficacy of a forearm band in addition to exercises compared with exercises alone for lateral epicondylitis: A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A forearm band is frequently used for lateral epicondylitis worldwide. However, evidence regarding its efficacy has been insufficient. The objective of this prospective, randomized, controlled trial was to analyze the effects of a forearm band for treatment of lateral epicondylitis at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with lateral epicondylitis were randomly allocated into a band (n = 55) or non-band (n = 55) group. Patients in the band group were instructed to wear a forearm band for more than 6 h daily for at least 6 months. Patients in both groups were instructed to perform wrist extensor stretching exercises for 30 s, 3 times daily, for 6 months. Hand10, pain, and satisfaction scores, and proportions of positive physical examinations, including tenderness assessment, Thomsen test, and middle finger extension test, were evaluated at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after enrollment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the band and non-band groups with regard to Hand10, pain, or satisfaction scores at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. Likewise, there was no significant difference in proportions of positive physical examinations between groups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the current study suggest that a forearm band may have no more than a placebo effect, and do not support the use of a forearm band based on its effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan. Electronic address: nishizuka1@mail.goo.ne.jp.
authors.forename: Takanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishizuka
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwatsuki
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Michiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550, Japan.
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirata
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013716:Tennis Elbow / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome