Comparative Effects of Shockwave Therapy and Eccentric Exercises in Patients With Lateral Epicondylitis

NCT07523893 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: IIUI/RERC/ADT/2026/01/210
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to compare the effects of shockwave therapy and eccentric exercises on pain, functional ability, quality of life, grip strength and range of motion in patients with lateral epicondylitis. Participants will be randomly assigned to either Group A (Shockwave therapy) or Group B (Eccentric Exercises) using a computer-generated random number tables method. The intervention will be provided over five weeks, with three sessions per week (total of 15 sessions): Group A (Shockwave therapy): Participants will receive shockwave therapy, for 5 min with energy level 7.0 m J and frequency 6 Hz. Group B (Eccentric Exercises): Participants will receive eccentric exercises, repeating each 10 repetitions 3 sets per session with a 1 min rest between each of them. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, week 0 and week 5 to evaluate which exercise program is more effective in reducing symptoms and improving functional outcomes.

Conditions

Tennis Elbow

Keywords

Lateral epicondylitis; Shockwave Therapy; Eccentric Exercises; Grip Strength

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Pain Intensity

  Pain intensity will be measured by Visual Analogue Scale

  Assessment will be done at baseline and on Week 5

• Functional Ability

  Functional ability will be measured by Patient-Related Tennis Elbow Evaluation

  Assessment will be done at baseline and on Week 5

• Quality of Life of Patients

  Quality of Life will be measured by SF-36 short form

  Assessment will be done at baseline and on Week 5

• Grip Strength

  Grip Strength will be measured by Dynamometer

  Assessment will be done at baseline and on Week 5

• Range of Motion

  Range of Motion will be measured by Goniometer.

  Assessment will be done at baseline and on Week 5

Study Arms (2)

Shock Wave Therapy

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive shockwave therapy, for 5 min with energy level 7.0 m J and frequency 6 Hz.

Other: Shockwave Therapy

Eccentric exercises

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive eccentric exercises, repeating each exercise 10 repetitions 3 sets per session with a 1 min rest between each of them

Other: Eccentric exercises

Interventions

Shockwave Therapy OTHER

Participants will receive shockwave therapy, for 5 min with energy level 7.0 m J and frequency 6 Hz.

Shock Wave Therapy

Eccentric exercises OTHER

Participants will receive eccentric exercises, repeating each 10 repetitions 3 sets per session with a 1 min rest between each of them

Eccentric exercises

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 50 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Patients diagnosed with Lateral epicondylitis
• Patients with 20-50 years
• Both males and females
• Willing to participate and provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Patients with recent trauma (fractures, injury etc.)
• Patients with blood clotting disorder (including thrombosis), oral anti-coagulants, and pacemaker, tumors at site of treatment, infected area or skin rupture or abrasion at the site of treatment, pregnancy.
• Cervical Radiculopathy or any diseases that mimic or refer pain to elbow.
• Patients who received steroid injection within 6 weeks.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ibadat International University, Islamabad: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Allied Health & Biological Sciences

Islamabad, Pakistan

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Tennis Elbow

Interventions

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

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

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Ultrasonic Therapy; Diathermy; Hyperthermia, Induced; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Muhammad Nazim Farooq, PhD-PT

  Ibadat International University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Yousra Bahadar, MS-PT(MSK)*

CONTACT

00923130522747; yousrabahadar111@gmail.com

Fatima Amjad, MS-SPT

CONTACT

00923330940975; fatima.amjad@uipt.iiui.edu.pk

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants will be informed that both interventions are effective physiotherapy treatments for lateral epicondylitis but will not be told which group they belonged to. The outcome assessor will remain blinded to group allocation throughout data collection at baseline and week 5. To maintain blinding, participants will be instructed not to disclose their exercise details during assessment, and all data will be recorded using coded identifiers (Group A or B).
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2026
• First Posted: April 13, 2026
• Study Start: February 2, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 16, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Locations

PA (1)