Rehabilitative Ultrasound Imaging Findings of the Change in the Pennation Angle of the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis in Patients with Tennis Elbow

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to confirm and secure the any possible lesion different to affected side against non-affected side of the Pennation Angle (PA) and relationship between the conventional methods. 20 patients with unilateral Tennis Elbow (TE) and 20 normal persons were included in the study, all examined by sonography; the PA of the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB) and the thickness of the Common Extensor Tendon (CET) respectively. The following are the results. In the affected side of the tennis elbow group, PA was significantly decreased, while the thickness of CET was significantly increased (p<.5). The dominant side of normal group, PA was significantly increased, while the thickness of CET showed no significant difference. The ratio of difference between the PA of the tennis elbow group and normal group displayed significant difference (p<.5). In addition, there was no correlation found between the change in CET and the ratio of PA change which is the current diagnostic means of the tennis elbow. The study confirmed the decrease in the PA of the tennis elbow patient’s ECRB. The relationship of the CET thickness difference method and PA was not founded. However it is expected to be the new means of effects of the treatment by comparing the difference in non-affected side and affected side PA.