Abstract

Background: Chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy is a common painful condition that may affect daily function and ability to work. Physiotherapy is the most commonly used conservative intervention but there is a wide range of treatment options within the umbrella of physiotherapy. One of the most common physiotherapy treatments for chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy is radial Extracorporeal shockwave therapy. The aim of the present questionnaire survey was to establish current clinical practice of pain and functional impairment associated with chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy through the self-reports of chartered physiotherapists of Nicosia.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted to establish current clinical practices for radial Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for the management of pain and functional impairment associated with chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy based on the self-reports of Nicosia chartered physiotherapists who used this treatment in their clinical practice. Data was managed using descriptive statistical analysis.

Results: 68 respondents (66%) who worked with chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy patients reported that they predominately used radial Extracorporeal shockwave therapy to treat chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy. They used a standardized treatment regimen of 1 session of treatment per week for a four-week period to treat chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy. All respondents reported that the radial Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is an effective not timeconsuming treatment to treat chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy but expensive for therapist and patient.

Conclusion: The results of the questionnaire present a representative view of current clinical practice of radial Extracorporeal shockwave therapy on chronic Lateral Elbow Tendinopathy at least as this treatment is applied in Nicosia. How much this reflects usage in the rest of Europe, or even the world, is yet to be seen by extending the research.

Keywords: Lateral elbow tendinopathy; Extracorporeal shockwave therapy; Questionnaire