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Shortwave Diathermy Enhances Recovery in Lateral Epicondylitis
Full Title
Continuous Shortwave Diathermy with Exercise Reduces Pain and Improves Function in Lateral Epicondylitis More Than Sham Diathermy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
This study evaluated the effectiveness of continuous shortwave diathermy (SWD) in treating chronic lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). Fifty patients were assigned to either an SWD + exercise group or a sham diathermy + exercise group. The SWD group received 15 minutes of 40-60 W continuous SWD along with specific exercises. Pain, function, and grip strength were measured at baseline, after 5 and 10 treatment sessions, and at 3 months. The SWD group showed significantly greater improvements in all outcomes compared to the control group. These findings suggest that SWD enhances pain relief and functional recovery in lateral epicondylitis.