Kinesio Taping, Wrist Splinting, and Epicondylitis Bandaging in Managing Lateral Epicondylitis: A Prospective Comparative Study

BACKGROUND We assessed the treatment outcomes of patients assigned by sequential randomization to 3 groups: epicondylitis bandaging, wrist dorsiflexion splinting, and kinesio taping. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty-four patients diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis were included in the study and randomly divided into 3 groups (n=18): epicondylitis bandage, wrist dorsiflexion splint, and kinesio tape. Patients were evaluated using a visual analog score (VAS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder (DASH) score, PRTEE (Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation) score, and hand grip strength at baseline and at 3 and 6 weeks. RESULTS Lateral epicondylitis was diagnosed in the right elbow in 40 patients and the left elbow in 14 patients. Lateral epicondylitis was on the dominant side in 39 patients and on the opposite side in 15. When the VAS, PRTEE, DASH, and wrist grip strengths of the patients who used epicondylitis bandage, wrist dorsiflexion splint, and kinesio tape in the treatment were compared, no significant difference was found between the results before treatment and at 3 and 6 weeks after treatment. CONCLUSIONS We found no significant differences between conservative treatment of lateral epicondylitis via epicondylitis bandage, wrist dorsiflexion splint, and kinesio tape at baseline and at 3 and 6 weeks after treatment as assessed by VAS, DASH score, PRTEE score, and hand grip strength.