Efficacy of low-energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy and a supervised clinical exercise protocol for the treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis: A randomised controlled study

AbstractThis randomised controlled trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of low-energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy with a supervised exercise protocol for the treatment of chronic lateral epicondylitis. Thirty patients of lateral epicondylitis were randomly placed into two groups: an experimental group (n = 15) and a control group (n = 15). The experimental group received low-energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy and supervised exercise once a week for 3 weeks, whereas the control group received a supervised exercise protocol three times a week. Both the groups were instructed to carry out a home exercise programme twice daily for 4 weeks.Outcome parameters included in this study were pain intensity, pain-free grip strength, and the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. Data were collected at baseline and after the end of treatment (at 4th week). There was a decline in pain, and improvements in pain-free grip strength and limb function in both groups compared with the baseline values. At the end of the treatment period, the experimental group had greater reduction in pain intensity and better improvement in limb function (p < 0.01). It can be concluded that low-energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy, when combined with regular exercise, is an effective method for reducing pain and improving upper limb function in patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis

Effect of Treadmill Training on Gait and Functional Independence in Patients with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Case Series

Background and purpose: Many individuals with an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) have the potential to walk. The effectiveness of using a treadmill for gait training for these patients has been substantiated in the literature. This case series describes the effectiveness of incorporating gait training on a treadmill for two individuals with an incomplete SCI. Case Description: The treatments of two males each with an incomplete paraplegia were described. Subject 1 was 40 years old and was 14 months post injury at the time of the study. He had a T6 incomplete spinal cord injury classified as a D on the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale and neurological classification standards. Subject 2 was 48 years old and was 10 months post injury. He had a T8 incomplete spinal cord injury classified as ASIA C. Intervention: Both subjects participated in gait training for a maximum of 10 minutes on a motorized treadmill without elevation at a comfortable walking speed three days a week for four weeks as an adjunct to a conventional physiotherapy programme.Results: An increase in step length, stride length, cadence, and comfortable walking speed were noted in both subjects. Both subjects improved their walking level as measured by the Walking Index for Spinal Cord Injury (WISCI II) and functional independence as measured by Spinal Cord Independent Measure (SCIM II). Conclusion: Gait training on a treadmill can improve gait parameters and functional independence in patients with incomplete paraplegia. Further research is needed to improve the generalizability of these findings and to identify which patients might benefit most from treadmill training