Heavy slow-resistance wrist exercises and shoulder stabilization to reduce pain and improve grip in tennis elbow

Comparative Impact of Wrist Heavy Slow Resistance and Shoulder Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Grip Strength and Functional Ability in Lateral Epicondylitis

Not applicable Interventional University of Faisalabad · NCT07576829

This test will compare six weeks of heavy slow-resistance wrist exercises against shoulder stabilization exercises to see which better reduces pain and improves grip and function in adults aged 30–50 with tennis elbow.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment32 (estimated)
Ages30 Years to 50 Years
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Faisalabad Academic / other
Locations1 site (Sādiqābād)
Trial IDNCT07576829 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This interventional trial will enroll 32 medically stable adults with active shoulder and wrist movement and a clinical diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis. Participants will be randomized into two groups and receive structured exercise training for six weeks: one group will do heavy slow-resistance wrist exercises and the other will do shoulder stabilization exercises. Outcomes including pain (NPRS), grip strength, and functional ability will be measured with standardized assessment tools before and after the intervention. The aim is to determine which exercise strategy more effectively improves the upper-limb kinetic chain affected by lateral epicondylitis.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 30–50 with tennis elbow of at least two weeks' duration, a positive Cozen test, normal upper-limb radiographs, and preserved shoulder and wrist movement are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People with chronic elbow pain of six months or more, cervical radiculopathy, prior elbow surgery, active shoulder/wrist injury, inflammatory arthritis, fractures on the affected side, or certain systemic illnesses and anticoagulant use are unlikely to be eligible or benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the better exercise approach could reduce elbow pain, increase grip strength, and improve daily arm function without invasive treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Heavy slow-resistance approaches have shown benefit in tendinopathy research, while applying shoulder stabilization to treat tennis elbow is a less-studied kinetic-chain strategy.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Both genders will be involved with ages 30-50. Patients who have had pain for the last 2 weeks with tenderness. Subjects who will have a positive cozen test. Also include those who have a radiological graph with normal bone and joint alignment of the upper limb.

Include those who will be clinically diagnosed with LE from the orthopedic OPD. A pain score of more than or equal to 4 in NPRS diagnosed as tennis elbow.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those who will have pain on the lateral aspect of the elbow for 6 months or more than 6 months.

Subjects who will be diagnosed with cervical radiculopathy. Those who will have the injury and disease around the shoulder, elbow and wrist.

Those with a history of elbow surgery, open wound and infectious limb. Those with a history of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Those who have any fracture of the treatment side upper limb. systemic illness like bleeding disorders, anticoagulants, diabetes, and hypertension.

Where this trial is running

Sādiqābād

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Lateral EpicondylitisTennis Elbow
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.