The Effect of Motor Learning Exercises on Lateral Epicondylitis

NCT06459102 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: KaratayUH12
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 46
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of motor learning training in addition to a 6-week conventional physiotherapy program on motor imagery, function pain and grip strength in individuals with chronic lateral epicondylitis. At the end of the study, it is aimed to develop a system for motor learning training in individuals with chronic lateral epicondylitis and to create a new exercise protocol.

Conditions

Lateral Epicondylitis

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Motor imagery

  Motor imagery will be assessed through a left/right judgment task in which participants will need to recognize whether hand images correspond to their left or right side using the Recognise™ application (Neuro Orthopaedic Institute, Adelaide, Australia).

  Baseline, 6 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Function

  Baseline, 6 weeks

• Elbow Pain

  Baseline, 6 weeks

• Grip strength

  Baseline, 6 weeks

• Activities of Daily Living

  Baseline, 6 weeks

• Treatment satisfaction

  Baseline, 6 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Motor Learning

EXPERIMENTAL

In addition to the conventional physiotherapy program, motor learning exercise will be performed for 6 weeks, 3 sessions per week. For the exercise, the participant will sit in a chair with back support, in front of a table, with arms on the table. The participant will wear a glove with an IMU sensor on the upper surface and a pressure sensor on the palm, and a cylinder will be placed in the palm. The participant will be asked to bring the wrist into extension and then back into flexion while grasping the cylinder with maximum force. The participant will be asked to maintain maximum strength during the entire movement. The participant will be given visual feedback on muscle strength and range of motion of the wrist on the monitor in front of them throughout the movement. The same protocol will be applied by keeping the size of the cylinder in the participant's palm the same and changing the weight.

Other: Motor Learning

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

The control group will receive a conventional physiotherapy program for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. Eccentric training for the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle, the most affected wrist extensor tendon, and static stretching exercises for the ECRB muscle will be given. For eccentric training, the weight that the patients can lift in 10 maximal repetitions will be calculated and they will be asked to work with this weight. The best stretching position for the ECRB tendon is extension of the elbow joint, pronation of the forearm and flexion of the wrist with ulnar deviation. Each participant will be taught to perform each exercise for 10 repetitions and 10 seconds. Patients will perform these exercises in a sitting position. In the control group, daily exercises will be performed under the supervision of a physiotherapist.

Other: Control

Interventions

Motor Learning OTHER

In addition to the conventional physiotherapy program .... per week for 4 weeks Sessions of motor learning exercise will be performed. For the exercise, the participant will sit in a chair with back support, in front of a table, with arms on the table. The participant will wear a glove with an IMU sensor on the upper surface and a pressure sensor on the palm, and a cylinder will be placed in the palm. The participant will be asked to bring the wrist into extension and then back into flexion while grasping the cylinder with maximum force. The participant will be asked to maintain maximum strength during the entire movement. The participant will be given visual feedback on muscle strength and range of motion of the wrist on the monitor in front of them throughout the movement. The same protocol will be applied by keeping the size of the cylinder in the participant's palm the same and changing the weight.

Motor Learning

Control OTHER

The control group will receive a conventional physiotherapy program for 4 weeks, 5 days a week. Eccentric training for the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle, the most affected wrist extensor tendon, and static stretching exercises for the ECRB muscle will be given. For eccentric training, the weight that the patients can lift in 10 maximal repetitions will be calculated and they will be asked to work with this weight. The best stretching position for the ECRB tendon is extension of the elbow joint, pronation of the forearm and flexion of the wrist with ulnar deviation. Each participant will be taught to perform each exercise for 10 repetitions and 10 seconds. Patients will perform these exercises in a sitting position. In the control group, daily exercises will be performed under the supervision of a physiotherapist

Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• a diagnosis of chronic LET by a physician and
• a pain score \> 3 on the visual analog scale (VAS)

You may not qualify if:

• concomitant disorders of the wrist and forearm, such as elbow fracture or dislocation, and
• treatment with corticosteroid injections within the previous 6 months

Sponsors & Collaborators

• KTO Karatay University: lead

Study Sites (1)

KTO Karatay University

Konya, Karatay, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Gercek H, Cihan E, Celik F, Sonmez Unuvar B, Sari Z. Pain, grip strength, and motor imagery reaction time are associated with pain and disability in individuals with chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2026 Feb;81:103463. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2025.103463. Epub 2025 Dec 1.

  PMID: 41349351 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tennis Elbow

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Elbow Tendinopathy; Tendinopathy; Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Elbow Injuries; Arm Injuries; Wounds and Injuries; Tendon Injuries

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 10, 2024
• First Posted: June 14, 2024
• Study Start: September 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 29, 2025
• Study Completion: July 30, 2025
• Last Updated: July 31, 2025

Record last verified: 2024-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)