The relative effectiveness of dry needling the extensor muscles of the forearm as an adjunct to cross friction massage in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis

Abstract

Lateral epicondylitis is the most common cause of chronic lateral elbow pain in adults (Bowen et al. 2001:642). No uniform treatment regime is available for lateral epicondylitis, although most authors do agree that treatment should begin with a conservative approach before progressing to more complex and invasive therapies (Kamien 1990:174). The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative effectiveness of dry needling myofascial trigger points of the forearm extensor muscles as an adjunct to cross friction massage, in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis.