BMJ  2006;333 (4 November), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7575.0-c

Best treatment for tennis elbow?

All patients receiving treatment for tennis elbow reported successful outcomes at one year regardless of treatment type, but those receiving physiotherapy sought significantly less additional analgesia. Bisset and colleagues (p 939) randomised 198 patients with untreated tennis elbow to receive one of three interventions: corticosteroid injections, physiotherapy comprising manipulation and taught exercises, and "wait and see" with advice on symptom relief. Corticosteroid injections gave the best results at six weeks but in 72% symptoms recurred and recovery was delayed. Physiotherapy yielded better outcomes in the long term.

Credit: FAY NORMAN/SPL

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