Comparative analysis of analgesic effects of ALTENS and conventional TENS on Tennis Elbow patients

Abstract

Objectives: This study is aimed to find the comparative effectiveness of ALTENS and conventional TENS or high frequency TENS in reducing pain of  the patients with Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis.

Material and Methods of data collection: Patients were selected from physiotherapy O.P.D., UIHS, CSJM University, Kanpur. Doctors and physical therapist that were posted there were requested to refer patients complaining of pain at lateral epicondyl of elbow.

A total of 120 patients were included in this study based on inclusion criteria. The purposive and random sampling techniques were used for sampling. Patients were divided in two groups Group-A and Group-B. Each group had 30 patients.

The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), were used to measure the outcomes. The pre-test measurements were performed at baseline and post test measurement at the end of 15^th day sessions (14 sessions with one Sunday off).

Results: The  VAS scores in the ALTENS group showed a significant improvement after 15 days of treatment when compared with conventional TENS both at rest and during activity .The  p-value for average scores when compared from  Pre to Post treatment using Wilcoxon Signed rank test was less than that of 0.05 which indicated significant change from Pre-score to Post-Score in Group A. Since p-value for Mann-Whitney U test for average scores at post evaluation, when compared between Group A and Group B, was less than that of 0.05 which indicated significant difference between Group A and Group B.

Conclusion: Result of this study showed that ALTENS is more effective in reducing pain of tennis elbow patients when compared with conventional TENS. The treatment program may also lead to additional benefits in their daily living activities, functionality, and working life.