The Effect of Corticosteroid Injection with and Without Dry Needling on Pain Intensity in Patients with Tennis Elbow: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Orthopedic Student, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Background: Tennis elbow is a condition in which pain is felt in the lateral part of the elbow due to the excessive extension of the wrist. This study aimed to compare the local injection effect of the corticosteroid alone vs corticosteroid alongside dry needling, in easing pain intensity.
Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 90 patients (45 cases group and 45 controls group) with tennis elbow were investigated. In the case and control groups, local corticosteroid injection was done alongside dry needling (continuous movement of the needle to injure the bony cortex at the origin of the extensor carpal radialis brevis muscle) and without needling, respectively. Finally, changes in pain severity before, three, and six months after treatment were compared between the two groups using a visual analog scale.
Findings: The mean age of patients in the case and control groups was 45.17 ± 7.93 and 46.62 ± 6.23, respectively while the observed difference was not statistically significant. Comparison of pain intensity between two groups showed that the pain intensity score in the case group was significantly lower than the control group even after adjusting for age and gender. In the study groups, pain intensity score changes were not statistically significant during different time intervals.
Conclusion: Based on the results, injection of corticosteroids alongside dry needling can be more effective compared to the injection of corticosteroids without dry needling in reducing pain intensity.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 40, Issue 666
2nd Week, June
May and June 2022
Pages 202-208

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History

  • Receive Date: 16 October 2021
  • Revise Date: 13 June 2022
  • Accept Date: 29 May 2022

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