Lateral Epicondyle Tendinopathy Toolkit: Section E - Exercise Prescription

Original Editor - Rishika Babburu for BC Physical Therapy Tendinopathy Task Force:

Dr. Joseph Anthony, Paul Blazey, Dr. Allison Ezzat, Dr. Angela Fearon, Diana Hughes, Carol Kennedy, Dr. Alex Scott, Michael Yates and Alison Hoens

Top Contributors - Evan Thomas, Rishika Babburu, Kim Jackson, Admin, Wanda van Niekerk and Vidya Acharya  

This article is currently under review and may not be up to date. Please come back soon to see the finished work! (27/10/2022)

Concentric/Eccentric Home Exercise Program (Peterson et al 2011)

Protocol: Daily, 3-month program. Forearm supported in pronation with elbow in some flexion. Resistance 1kg women, 2kg men (1 litre of water = 1kg). 3 sets of 15 once daily. Increase resistance by 0.1 kg (100ml water) weekly. No comment was made regarding pain during exercise. Directions: Lift the weight by extending the wrist, then lower. The original research used a water container that is unavailable in North America. We have substituted a water bottle in a bag.

Figure 1

Supervised Eccentric Exercise and Stretching Program (Stasinopoulos et al 2006)

Protocol: 3 times a week, 4 weeks. Forearm supported in pronation with elbow extended. Wrist extended as high as possible then lowered into flexion slowly counting to 30, return to starting position using the other hand. 3 sets of 10, 1 minute rest between sets. Resistance, free weights. Increase resistance when the exercise is pain-free. Exercise with mild pain. Stop if pain becomes disabling. Passive stretching of the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon (ECRB) done by therapist 3 times before and 3 times after the eccentric exercise. Forearm pronated, elbow extended, wrist flexed and ulnar deviated. Hold 30-45 seconds. 30 second rest between stretches.   Directions: Extend the wrist using the unaffected hand (2A). Allow the wrist to flex (eccentric contraction of wrist extensors) (2B). The original research used hand held weights. We have substituted a bag with weights.

Figure 2A     Figure 2B

The “Tyler Twist” Eccentric Wrist Extensor Exercise (Tyler et al 2010)

Protocol: Daily, approximately 6 weeks. Forearm pronated, elbow and wrist extended. Allow wrist to flex slowly for approximately 4 seconds. 3 sets of 15 once daily. 30 second rest between sets. Increase resistance by using a thicker bar when the exercise is pain-free. Figure 3A Figure 3B Figure 3C Figure 3D Figure 3E   Directions: Hold the bar in the affected hand (3A). Place the unaffected hand as shown (3B). With affected wrist in full extension, twist the bar with the unaffected hand (3C). Stretch both arms out, elbows straight (3D). Slowly allow the affected wrist to bend, i.e. allow an eccentric contraction of wrist extensors (3E).

Acknowledgements

Developed by the BC Physical Therapy Tendinopathy Task Force: Dr. Joseph Anthony, Dr. Angela Fearon, Diana Hughes, Carol Kennedy, Dr. Alex Scott, Michael Yates, & Alison Hoens.

A Physical Therapy Knowledge Broker project supported by: UBC Department of Physical Therapy, Physiotherapy Association of BC, Vancouver Coastal Research Institute and Providence Healthcare Research Institute.

June 2013

Resources

• Click to go back to Lateral Epicondyle Tendinopathy (Tennis Elbow) Toolkit
• Click to go back to Section A: Treatment Algorithm
• Click to go back to Section B - Clinical Assessment
• Click to continue toSection C: Outcome Measures
• Click to continue to Section D: Summary of Evidence
• Click to continue to Section E: Details of Exercise Prescription
• Click to continue to Section F: Manual Therapy
• Click to continue to Section G: LASER Dosage Calculation
• Click to continue to Section H: Braces, Splints, and Taping
• UBC Lateral Epicondyle Tendinopathy (LET) Toolkit
• Appendix G: Medical and Surgical Interventions
• Appendix A: Details of the Articles