Search

Study Design: Qualitative study., Introduction: Adherence is paramount to the successful outcome of exercise-based treatment., Purpose of Study: The barriers and enablers to adherence to a home- and class-based exercise program were explored in this qualitative study., Methods: Semi-structured interviews were carried out to establish common themes relating to the participants' experiences during a year-long randomized controlled trial., Results/discussion: Twelve participants were interviewed. The main enablers to exercise were highlighted as equipment, perceived benefit from the exercises, and longer and more intensive monitoring. Barriers included the lack of motivation, lack of equipment, and pain., Conclusions: Implications for practice are incorporating enablers and addressing barriers including self-discharge from classes; the importance of longer term follow-up and the benefits of adopting exercise into a well-established routine may provide potential benefits., Level of Evidence: N/A., (Copyright © 2017 Hanley & Belfus. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to determine the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of the Patient-rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (PRTEE) Questionnaire in 78 tennis playing subjects who had chronic, unilateral, MRI-confirmed lateral elbow tendinopathy and who concomitantly participated in an outcome study. The PRTEE results were compared with results of the Visual Analog Scale (VAS); the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire; the Roles and Maudsley score; and the Upper Extremity Function Scale. Questionnaires were completed at baseline and 12 weeks. Reliability and internal consistency were excellent (PRTEE pain subscale, 0.94; PRTEE specific activities subscale, 0.93; PRTEE usual activities, 0.85). Correlations were good between the PRTEE subscales and total scale and the VAS and DASH. Standardized response means (SRM) were higher in the PRTEE (SRM=2.1) than in the other outcome measures (SRM, 1.5-1.7). The PRTEE was a reliable, reproducible, and sensitive instrument for assessment of chronic lateral elbow tendinopathy in a tennis playing cohort. It was at least as sensitive to change as the other outcome tools tested. The PRTEE may become the standard primary outcome measure in research of tennis elbow.