Immediate effects of counterforce brace with and without vibration on pain, muscle strength and range of motion in participants with lateral epicondylitis. A pilot study

Lateral epicondylitis is one of the most common elbow problems. Counterforce braces are commonly used to manage lateral epicondylitis. Recent studies showed that vibration can decrease pain and increase muscle strength by improving motor abilities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a counterforce brace with and without vibration on pain, muscular strength, wrist and elbow joints range of motion in the participants with lateral epicondylitis. In this repeated measure pre-post clinical trial study, 28 participants with lateral epicondylitis were included. Pain were measured with Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), wrist and elbow flexor/extensor muscles strength with digital dynamometer, wrist and elbow flexion/extension range of motion with goniometer in 3 condition baseline, counterforce brace and counterforce brace with vibration. Pain using counterforce bracing with vibration showed a significant reduction as compared with baseline and counterforce bracing (P < 0.001). Wrist flexor muscles strength (P = 0.005), elbow flexor/extensor muscles strength respectively (P = 0.04, P = 0.02), wrist flexion/extension range of motion (P < 0.001) following the use of counterforce bracing with vibration increased significantly compared with baseline. The results show that the counterforce bracing with and without vibration relieves pain and improves range of motion and muscles strength in lateral epicondylitis participants, but this improvement is more significant with the use of vibration.