Clinical and ultrasonographic effectiveness of transfer energy capacitive and resistive therapy in lateral epicondylitis: a randomized controlled study Eficacia clínica y ecográfica de la terapia TECAR en la epicondilitis lateral: un estudio controlado aleatorizado


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Tombak Y., KARAAHMET Ö. Z., Zaman C., Cerci F., ÜNLÜ AKYÜZ E., GÜRÇAY E.

Cirugia y Cirujanos, cilt.94, sa.2, ss.167-178, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 94 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.24875/ciru.25000390
  • Dergi Adı: Cirugia y Cirujanos
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, Directory of Open Access Journals, Biomedical Reference Collection: Corporate Edition (EBSCO)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.167-178
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Lateral epicondylitis, Transfer energy, capacitive and resistive, Tennis elbow, Ultrasonography
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • Sağlık Bilimleri Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objectives: To assess the clinical and ultrasonographic effectiveness of transfer energy capacitive and resistive (TECAR) therapy in managing lateral epicondylitis (LE). Method: Forty-seven patients with clinically and sonographically confirmed unilateral LE were randomized into two groups. The control group received exercise and LE banding for 3 weeks. The TECAR group received the same treatment, plus TECAR therapy 3 times weekly (nine sessions). Outcomes were evaluated using the patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation (PRTEE) as the primary measure. Secondary outcomes included Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, handgrip strength (HGS), common extensor tendon (CET) thickness, and total ultrasonography scale score (TUSS). Assessments were made at baseline and post-treatment. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in elbow VAS-rest, VAS-night, VAS for activities of daily living (VAS-ADL), forearm VAS-night, VAS-ADL, arm VAS-ADL, lateral epicondyle tenderness-VAS, HGS, TUSS, hypoechogenicity, and PRTEE scores after treatment compared to baseline. Treatment did not significantly improve either group’s forearm VAS-rest, CET thickness, neovascularity, heterogeneity, or bone abnormality. Change in elbow VAS-ADL was found to be statistically significantly better in the TECAR group. Conclusions: TECAR therapy, when combined with conventional treatment, led to greater improvement in ADL-related pain and may be particularly beneficial for active individuals requiring faster symptom relief.