Effect of Functional Task Exercises on Hand Function and Grip Strength in Patients with Lateral epicondylitis

Abstract

Background: Tennis Elbow is the most common overuse syndrome in the elbow. It is a tendinopathy

injury involving the extensor muscles of the forearm. The lateral epicondylitis is characterized by pain and

tenderness at the lateral epicondyle of the humerus as there is non-specific inflammation at the origin of the

extensor muscles of forearm. As there is pain and inflammation, the grip strength in decreased and hand

function is affected. But there are few research done on intervention regarding same. Hence a comparative

study was carried on 60 patient, 30 subjects were grouped in Group A which were given functional task

exercises and Group B was given Conventional therapy. The stastical analysis showed that out of 30 subjects,

mean age of group A patients was 25±6.23 and mean age of group B patients was 27.2±4.8. Grip strength

in between Group A (63.5± 14.2) and Group B (60.4± 12.9) with p value 0.04, Patient rated tennis elbow

evaluation scale in between Group A (44.1± 6.8) and Group B (43.8±10.6) with p value 0.002 and Michigan

hand outcome measures in between Group A (62.5±14.4) and Group B (54.3±14.7) with p value 0.0005.

Hence the study concluded that there is significant effect of Functional Task Exercises on Grip strength and

Hand function in lateral epicondylitis.