The Role of Elbow Tender Point Examination in the Diagnosis of Lateral Epicondylitis. Issue 2 (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yoon, Sarang K.; Thiese, Matthew S.; Ott, Ulrike; Kapellusch, Jay; Merryweather, Andrew; Wood, Eric M.; Ronna, Brenden B.; Foster, James; Drury, David L.; Hegmann, Kurt T.
• Is Part Of: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Volume 61:Issue 2(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: case definitions -- interobserver variability -- lateral epicondylagia -- lateral epicondylitis -- prevalence -- sensitivity -- specificity -- tender points -- tennis elbow; Medicine, Industrial -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Occupational Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental Medicine -- Periodicals; Environmental health; Medicine, Industrial; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9803
• DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001496
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1076-2752

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To quantify sensitivity and specificity of the tender points and demonstrate how variability in case definition impacts prevalence of lateral epicondylitis (LE). Methods: Baseline data analyzed from 1216 workers from the WISTAH study, a multicenter prospective cohort study of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. All workers completed computerized questionnaires, structured interviews, and two independent physical examinations in accordance with an established protocol. Results: The prevalence of LE differed based on case definition ranging from 4.7% to 12.1%. Sensitivity was low for tender points 1 to 4 ranging from 6.8% to 34.6%. Specificity was high for tender points 1 to 4 ranging from 95.2% to 97.9%. Conclusions: The prevalence of lateral epicondylitis differs markedly based on case definition used, ranging more than two-fold. Standardization of a case definition is essential to allow for comparisons across studies. Abstract : Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text