Where does pain present during clinical tests for lateral elbow tendinopathy? - a pilot study of pain mapping

Introduction: Lateral elbow pain is common with prevalence up to 14% and incidence 50% in racquet-sports. The term covers various presentations including tendinopathy, typified by focal pain. Lack of consensus on treatment may be due participant heterogeneity research studies. Elbow tendinopathy clinical tests lack specificity pain-spread during testing has not been described. Participants have different responses those diffuse that indicate hyperalgesia. aim this pilot study was describe location pain-provocation used lateral grip strength pressure thresholds (PPTs), individuals presenting or without Methods: cross-sectional assessor-blinded. Thirty-three participants (n, females = 15; [mean ± SD] age, 33.1 11.1 years; height, 174.8 9.8 cm; weight, 75.0 17.1 kg) were recruited; twenty no history self-reported assessed using four completed pain-mapping the region eight previously piloted maps. Pain dichotomised a priori into Pressure measured bilaterally over common-extensor tendon tibialis anterior muscles. Grip-strength dynamometer. Analysis involved between within-group comparisons tested side, response (focal, pain) limb dominance. Alpha level <0.05. Results: Twelve reported pain, 3 18 testing. locations heterogeneous; seven maps selected at least once tests. Likelihood prior 20 (15.0 %), whereas likelihood 12 13 (92.3 %). Due sample size limitations, only control (no groups compared statistically. group presented lower PPTs (median IQR: 23.90 [15.0] N) controls (33.30 [34.35] for arm (p=0.036). No between-group differences observed PPT’s side (p’s=0.169-0.735) nor dominance (p’s=0.334-0.857). Within-group analyses revealed grip-strength significantly dominant non-dominant arms (dominant: 43.30 [15.6] kg, non-dominant: 39.10 [16.58] p=0.008), but (p=0.109). Discussion: Clinical provoked heterogenous presentations. There evidence widespread hyperalgesia reporting Similar deficits reported. Pain-mapping useful adjunct report variability included participants. Application•Provocation appear provoke heterogeneous (focal diffuse)•Inclusion increase intervention response, limiting translation increasing waste Conflict Interest: My co-authors I acknowledge we conflict interest relevance submission abstract