A Study to Compare the Effectiveness of Active Release Technique Versus Deep Friction Massage on Pain, Grip Strength and Functional Performance in Patients with Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Lateral epicondylitis is a very common overuse syndrome in the elbow. It is an injury whichinvolves the extensor muscles of the forearm. The most frequent location of the involvement is in the musculotendinousjunction of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle. It leads to pain, reduced grip strength and functional impairmentsaffecting individual’s lifestyle. Active release technique and deep friction massage both are effective techniques in thetreatment of lateral epicondylitis. This study focuses on the comparative perspective of these soft tissue techniques alongwith the conventional treatment in terms of relief to the patients suffering from lateral epicondylitis.Study Design: Experimental design comparative in nature.Method: This study was done on 30 subjects who were divided equally into two groups. Group A received active releasetechnique along with the conventional treatment for lateral epicondylitis and group B received deep friction massagealong with the conventional treatment. Each patient was assessed on 1st, 11th and 21st day using Numeric Pain Rating Scale(NPRS), hand dynamometer and Patient Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) questionnaire.Result: Statistical analysis of the data revealed that both the therapies produced improvement in pain, grip strength andfunctional activity status among patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis but according to independent t-test there washighly significant difference between active release technique and deep friction massage groups. The study confirmedthat the effect of therapy in group B is more effective rather than group A by NPRS scores but on PRTEE and gripstrength effect of therapy in group A (ART) was more effective rather than group B (DFM). And by paired sample test therewas statistically significant difference between before and after program in group A and group B among chronic lateralepicondylitis patients.Conclusion: The study concluded that active release technique and deep friction massage both are effective treatments ifdone along with the conventional treatment. Active release technique demonstrated better improvement than the deepfriction massage in the management of lateral epicondylitis.