Blood Flow Restriction Training in Tennis Elbow

Lateral epicondylitis (LE) is a common musculoskeletal disorder caused by repetitive overuse of the forearm extensor muscles. It is characterized by pain over the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, which may radiate to the surrounding tissues at the origin of the wrist extensor tendons. LE is one of the most frequent causes of lateral elbow pain, with a reported prevalence of approximately 1-3% in the general population. Among conservative interventions, exercise-based rehabilitation is considered a cornerstone of management. In particular, exercise programs incorporating eccentric contractions have demonstrated superior clinical outcomes compared with several other exercise approaches and are therefore widely recommended. Blood flow restriction training (BFRT) has recently emerged as an alternative rehabilitation strategy that promotes neuromuscular adaptations while using low mechanical loads. BFRT involves the application of a pneumatic cuff, tourniquet, or elastic band around the proximal portion of an extremity to partially restrict arterial inflow while substantially reducing venous return, thereby creating localized metabolic and hemodynamic stress during exercise. The primary aim of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the effects of BFRT on pain, functional status, pain-free grip strength, health-related quality of life, and ultrasonographic characteristics of the common extensor tendon in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

NCT Number	NCT07710976
Lead Sponsor	Necmettin Erbakan University
Conditions	Tennis Elbow Syndrome
Enrollment	60 participants
Start Date	2025-02-28
Primary Completion	2026-02-28 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-02-28 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-07-21