Bilateral Sensorimotor Abnormalities in Unilateral Lateral Epicondylalgia
Abstract
Bisset LM, Russell T, Bradley S, Ha B, Vicenzino BT. Bilateral sensorimotor abnormalities in unilateral lateral epicondylalgia.
Objective
To evaluate impairments in motor function of the upper limb in unilateral lateral epicondylalgia.
Design
Assessor-blinded, case-controlled study.
Setting
University laboratory.
Participants
Forty participants with lateral epicondylalgia and 40 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited from the general community.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Wrist posture adopted during a grip test, grip strength force, as well as upper-limb reaction times and speed of movement.
Results
Participants with unilateral lateral epicondylalgia adopted wrist postures that were on average 11° less extended, bilaterally, than controls (P<.000). This was paralleled by increased upper-limb reaction times and reduced speed of movement (mean differences, 2%−15%) in both affected and unaffected limbs. Pain-free grip strength was reduced on the involved side (mean difference, 170N; 95% confidence interval, 144−195N).
Conclusions
Motor deficits may be modifiable through exercise and postural retraining. Although further work is required to evaluate the clinical efficacy of such an approach, health care practitioners have an emerging evidence base on which to base their management of lateral epicondylalgia.
Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia
Reprint requests to Bill T. Vicenzino, PhD, Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
Supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia (grant no. 252710).
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.
ABSTRACT