Efficacy of Plyometric and TheraBand FlexBar Exercises in Tennis Elbow Patients: A Comparative Study

TL;DR

This study compares plyometric and TheraBand FlexBar exercises for treating tennis elbow, finding plyometric exercises more effective when combined with ultrasound.

Contribution

The study provides empirical evidence that plyometric exercises with ultrasound are more effective than TheraBand FlexBar exercises for tennis elbow.

Findings

Plyometric exercises with ultrasound significantly reduced discomfort and improved function in tennis elbow patients.

Group A (plyometric) showed greater improvement compared to Group B (TheraBand FlexBar) with a p-value < 0.001.

Ultrasound therapy combined with exercise was effective, but plyometric exercises were superior.

Abstract

Background

Lateral epicondylitis is a common condition involving the arm. It is caused by degenerative changes or overuse of the tendon connecting the elbow joint to the forearm muscle. Plyometric and TheraBand FlexBar (Theraband, Akron, OH, USA) exercises can relieve elbow discomfort, soreness, and weakness. This study examines the effects of plyometric and TheraBand FlexBar exercises with ultrasound on tennis elbow patients.

Methodology

It is an experimental study comprising a total of 30 participants, including individuals of both genders with age groups of 20-40 years were selected by specific criteria for inclusion and exclusion. The participants were randomly assigned into two groups. Group A received plyometric exercises with ultrasound, whereas Group B received TheraBand FlexBar exercises with ultrasound. The outcome measures utilized in this study include patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) and visual analog scale (VAS) for evaluating the functional disability of the hand, arm, and shoulder.

Results

The results showed a substantial reduction in mean values in Group A compared to Group B, with a p-value of less than 0.001, indicating that plyometric exercises with ultrasound were more effective than TheraBand FlexBar exercises.

Conclusion

Plyometric exercises combined with ultrasound therapy demonstrated significant reductions in discomfort and improvements in function, with plyometric exercises showing superior efficacy compared to TheraBand FlexBar exercises.