Gosens & Sluimer from the Netherlands, just reported on a prospective, double blinded, randomized study comparing PRP to cortisone injections in the treatment of 100 patients with tennis elbow. They used a visual analog pain score (1-10) & a DASH score to measure treatment response by 24 weeks. Both groups demonstrated initial improvement. However, by 24 weeks the cortisone group had a recurrence of pain whereas the PRP group continued to have improved pain scores. 1 and 2 year follow up results will be reported in the future. This article originated from St. Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
Prior research has showed that after 4-6weeks tendons are no longer inflammed, but rather become thickened, scarred, & fibrotic with poor blood supply. Therefore at this point the proper nomenclature is "tendinosis" not tendinitis. With this understanding we try to facilitate healing by increasing blood flow and breaking up scar tissue.
2 comments:
Great Post!
Another way to get rid of forearm pain and tennis elbow is to wear Elbow Braces.
Although there are many good elbow braces out there - as far as quality, comfort, and prices are considered - Serola's Gel Arc Elbow Brace is the best one for forearm pain. I'd say it was well worth my $20 investment, and I highly recommend this product to others. Couple years ago, I used to type a lot in front of a PC and would get Carpal Tunnel. Then, I heard about this elbow brace made by Serola Biomechanics from a co-worker. Since I started wearing the elbow brace, I never had any forearm pains. It worked for me!
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Hope it helps, and good luck to everyone!
As a COTA for 20+years, working with epicondylitis patients has always been a challenge. There are those patients who wait gfor months and years to seek treatment and often very tough to rehab. A few of my referring doctors are utiizing the PRP injection treatment and I am looking for feedback as a therapist. My patients are coming back around 3 weeks after the injection and still painful, but not constant. My tx is to decrease pain and increase function with AROM and modalities....am I on the right track or do I need to do something more?
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