EFFECT OF MOBILIZATION WITH MOVEMENT WITH TENDON VIBRATION FEEDBACK VERSUS HEAVY SLOW RESISTANCE TRAINING ON PAIN, GRIP STRENGTH, AND FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES IN ATHLETES WITH LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS

Abstract

Background: Lateral epicondylitis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterised by lateral elbow pain, reduced grip strength, and impaired upper-limb function. This study compared the effects of Mobilisation with Movement combined with Tendon Vibration (MWM + TV) and Heavy Slow Resistance (HSR) training on pain, grip strength, and functional outcomes in athletes with lateral epicondylitis.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial was conducted among 52 athletes aged 20–40 years with lateral epicondylitis. Participants were randomly allocated into two equal groups (n = 26) at the Outpatient Department of Advance Physiotherapy and Sports Clinic, DHA, Lahore. Group A received HSR training, whereas Group B received MWM combined with Tendon Vibration. Both interventions were administered three times weekly for four weeks. Pain intensity, grip strength, and functional disability were assessed using the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Jamar Hand Dynamometer, and Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE), respectively. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 26. Normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, followed by paired-samples t-test, independent-samples t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), as appropriate.

Results: Both groups demonstrated statistically significant improvements in all outcome measures following the intervention (p < 0.001). In the HSR group, NPRS scores decreased from 6.81 ± 1.833 to 4.38 ± 1.602, while grip strength increased from 19.04 ± 3.243 to 23.46 ± 4.091 kg. PRTEE scores decreased from 54.65 ± 7.848 to 20.38 ± 4.011. In the MWM + TV group, NPRS scores decreased from 6.58 ± 1.880 to 2.46 ± 1.630, while grip strength increased from 20.46 ± 3.679 to 28.15 ± 3.171 kg. PRTEE scores decreased from 52.31 ± 7.347 to 23.08 ± 3.212. Between-group analysis demonstrated significantly lower post-intervention NPRS scores and greater grip strength in the MWM + TV group (p < 0.001), whereas significantly lower PRTEE scores were observed in the HSR group (p = 0.010).

Conclusion: Both HSR and MWM combined with Tendon Vibration produced significant improvements in pain, grip strength, and functional outcomes in athletes with lateral epicondylitis. MWM + TV demonstrated greater improvement in pain reduction and grip strength, whereas HSR produced greater improvement in PRTEE scores.