Abstract
Lateral elbow tendinopathy, or “tennis elbow,” is a pathology that affects around 1.3% of the general population. Capacitive–resistive electric transfer therapy aims to provoke temperature and current flow changes in superficial and deep tissues. The aim of this in vitro study was to analyze the thermal behavior and transmission of electric current on the superficial and deep tissues of the elbow during the application of different modalities of a capacitive–resistive electric transfer treatment protocol for chronic elbow tendinopathy. A cross-sectional study was designed; five fresh cryopreserved cadavers (10 elbows) were included in this study. A 30 min intervention was performed based on a protocol commonly used in clinics for the treatment of chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy by diathermy using the “T-Plus.” Common extensor tendon, radiohumeral capsule, and superficial temperatures were registered after each application for the duration of the 30 min treatment protocol. During all applications, we observed a current flow of over 0.03 A. The protocol showed a statistically significant increase in superficial temperature by 24% (5.02°) (p < 0.005), the common extensor tendon by 19.7% (4.36°) (p < 0.007), and the radiohumeral joint capsule by 17.5% (3.41°) (p < 0.005) at the end of the 30 min protocol compared with the baseline temperature. The different applications of the protocol showed specific effects on the temperature and current flow in the common extensor tendon and radiohumeral capsule. All applications of the protocol produced a current flow that is associated with the generation of cell proliferation. These results strengthen the hypothesis of cell proliferation and thermal changes in deep and distal structures. More studies are needed to confirm these results.
Highlights
Introduction“tennis elbow,” is a pathology that affects around
The different applications used during the Capacitive–resistive energy transfer (CRet) treatment protocol in this in vitro study produced variable responses and specific effects in temperature and current flow in the common extensor tendon and radiohumeral capsule
Our results showed a significant decrease in temperature in the common extensor tendon of the elbow and radiohumeral capsule
Summary
“tennis elbow,” is a pathology that affects around. 1.3% of the general population, with equal affectation in men and women [1]. Lateral elbow tendinopathy is primarily caused by repeated stress in the extensor tendon, in particular the extensor carpi radialis brevis, it can be caused by direct traumatism or overstretching [2,3]. The pathophysiological mechanism of tendinopathy has not been elucidated, it is believed that chronic tendinopathy is produced by a degenerative mechanism of the extensor tendon. This happens through hypoxia and tendon fibrosis, which could lead to the formation of
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