Objective To explore the effect of antagonistic exercise combined with extracorporeal shock wave therapy on elbow function and inflammatory factors in patients with tennis elbow.

Methods A total of 86 patients with tennis elbow were randomly divided into observation group and control group, with 43 cases in each group. The control group was treated with antagonistic exercise, while the observation group was treated with antagonistic exercise combined with extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Both groups were treated for 8 weeks, and the therapeutic effect was compared between two groups.

Results At 8 weeks after treatment, the degrees of flexion activity, excess extension activity, internal rotation activity and external rotation activity in the observation group were (114.28±10.33), (8.68±2.22), (57.82±9.66) and (62.53±7.85) °, which were significantly higher than (85.44±9.65), (5.59±1.712), (46.65±6.83) and (51.47±5.67) °in the control group (P < 0.05). At 4 and 8 weeks after treatment, the Mayo elbow function (MEPS) scored (74.66±5.95) and (86.74±6.52) respectively in the observation group, which were significantly higher than (67.51±4.78) and (80.32±5.33) in the control group (P < 0.05); the grip strength of the observation group were (23.63±3.59) and (25.86±3.77) kg respectively, which were significantly higher than (19.18±2.74) and (23.42±2.22) kg of the control group (P < 0.05). At 8 weeks after treatment, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), nitric oxide (NO) and interleukin-1 (IL-1) decreased in both groups when compared to those before treatment, but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). At 8 weeks after treatment, the maximum thickness of the extensor tendon of the elbow joint in the observation group was (3.24±0.11) mm, which was significantly smaller than (4.62±0.42) mm in the control group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion Antagonistic exercise combined with extracorporeal shock wave therapy can alleviate the local pain and discomfort of patients with tennis elbow, promote healing of soft tissues, and improve elbow mobility.