Pain-relieving effect of dynamic orthosis for lateral epicondylitis: a pilot crossover study

We developed a simple dynamic orthosis for lateral epicondylitis (DOLE) assisting wrist extensors. This study aimed to compare the pain-relieving effects of DOLE and the counterforce brace in patients with lateral epicondylitis during pickup motion. Eighteen patients with lateral epicondylitis performed a pickup test using a 1 kg sandbag under three conditions: without a brace, with a counterforce brace, and with DOLE. Pain during the task was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The pain-relieving effect was calculated as the percentage reduction in VAS compared to baseline (without an orthosis). The VAS in the pickup test was 63.2±18.8 mm without orthosis, 53.9±21.0 mm with the counterforce brace, and 38.9±17.0 mm with DOLE. The pain-relieving effect was 0.11 (0–0.20) for the counterforce brace and 0.38 (0.24–0.52) for DOLE, which was greater in DOLE than in the counterforce brace (p = 0.001). DOLE significantly reduced lateral elbow pain during pickup motion, outperforming the counterforce brace; however, given the relatively small sample size, these findings should be interpreted as preliminary evidence requiring confirmation in larger longitudinal studies. Its simple, worker-friendly design and strong pain-relief effect suggest its potential utility in treating lateral epicondylitis Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is a painful condition associated with degenerative changes at the tendon attachment site of the wrist extensors. It commonly affects workers and athletes who perform repetitive hand and wrist movements. To reduce pain, braces are often used. However, traditional counterforce braces mainly work by applying pressure to the forearm muscles, which may not be effective for all patients. <b>What Was Done?</b> We developed a new wrist support, DOLE (Dynamic Orthosis for Lateral Epicondylitis). Unlike conventional braces, DOLE stores energy when the wrist flexes and uses it to assist wrist extension, thereby helping to reduce mechanical stress at the tendon attachment site. The effectiveness of DOLE was tested in 18 patients with tennis elbow, comparing its painrelieving effects to those of a standard counterforce brace. <b>What Was Found?</b> Patients experienced significantly less pain when using DOLE compared to the counterforce brace while lifting an object from a table. This suggests that DOLE effectively reduces stress on the wrist tendons. <b>Why This Matters?</b> DOLE’s simple and flexible design allows users to perform daily activities without restriction, making it particularly suitable for workers who rely on hand movements. Since it actively supports wrist function, it may be a better option for managing tennis elbow pain than traditional braces. However, further research is required to evaluate its long-term benefits.