Paper Title
An Additive Effect of Deep Transverse Friction Massage Technique in Lateral Epicondylitis

Abstract
Objective: A study to determine the additive effect of deep transverse friction massage in patients with lateral epicondylitis. Design: Experimental study. Methods: In a 3-week intervention study, 30 patients with lateral epicondylitis were studied. Patients were divided in two Groups: Group A (n = 15) received ultrasound & exercises programme; Group B (n= 15) received deep transverse friction massage along with ultrasound & exercises. Both groups were submitted to 3 consecutive weeks of treatment consisting of five times weekly, sessions performed once in a day. A Visual analog scale (VAS), PRTEE score & grip strength values collected were administered at pretest and posttest. Dependent‘t’ test was used for the comparison between the pre and posttest values within the Group A and Group B. independent ‘t’ test was used for comparison between the pretest&posttest values of the two groups. Results: The results showed a significant decline in the pain intensity (p<0.05), a significant improvement in function (p<0.05), and a significant improvement in the hand grip strength (p<0.05) in the post treatment stage in comparison to the pre treatment stage in both the groups. Conclusion: The inclusion of deep transverse friction massage along with ultrasound and exercises produced a statistically significant decline in the pain intensity and improvement in function, grip strength when compared to ultrasound and exercises alone, in patients with lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. Keywords - Lateral Epicondylitis, Ultrasound, Deep Transverse Friction Massage, Exercises, VAS, Grip Strength