Comparison of 1% Hydrocortisone Phonophoresis with Low Level Laser on Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis of Elbow: A Randomized Double-blind Clinical Trial

Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow is the most common contractile lesion of the elbow and causes inflamation and pain at the origin of the wrist extensor muscles. The aim of this study was comparison of the effect of 1% Hydrocortisone Phonophoresis (1% HcP) with Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) on treatment of lateral epicondylis of elbow.
This randomized double blinded clinical trial was performed in Fatemieh physiotherapy clinic of Rafsanjan during 2015-2016. Seventy eight patients conflicted to epicondylitis of elbow were divided randomly into three equal groups. The first, second and third groups received 1% HcP, LLLT, and conventional therapy (CT), respectively. Intensity of local pain, radicular pain, sensitivity to palpation and grip strength were assessed during the first, fifth, and tenth sessions and 10 days after end of the treatment. Pain intensity and grip strenth were evaluated by visual analogue scale and dynamometer, respectively. Data were analyzed using two-way repeated measures ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test and chi-square test.
The findings showed that 10 sessions of LLLT can be more effective than 1% HcP and CT in reduction of pain in lateral epicondylitis of elbow (p0.05). In the tenth sessions, chi-squire test revealed that LLLT can be more effective than 1% HcP and conventional therapy in reduction of radicular pain and sensitivity to palpation of lateral epicondylitis of elbow (p From results of this study it can be concluded that during 10 sessions, LLLT could be more effective than 1% HcP and CT in reduction of local pain, radicular pain, and sensitivity to palpation of lateral epicondylitis of elbow.