25 February 2026 : Clinical Research
Effects of Blood Flow Restriction Training Combined With Conventional Physical Therapy on Pain, Muscle Architecture, Strength, Function, and Psychosocial Outcomes in Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Jun-Ho Park ABCDEF 1, Ho Kim ACD 2, Myung-Mo Lee ACDF 3DOI: 10.12659/MSM.951969
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e951969
Table 2 Comparison of pre- and post-intervention outcomes between groups (N=20).
| EG (n=10) | CG (n=10) | t (P) | SMD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numeric Pain Rating Scale (score) | Pre | 5.50±1.08 | 5.10±0.87 | .910 (.375) | .406 |
| Post | 1.90±1.37 | 1.60±1.07 | .545 (.593) | .244 | |
| Diff | −3.60±0.96 | −3.50±0.70 | .264 (.795) | .118 | |
| t(p) | 11.784 (.001) | 15.652 (.001) | |||
| Pressure pain threshold (kgf) | Pre | 3.32±1.52 | 4.24±1.76 | −1.241 (.231) | .554 |
| Post | 6.44±2.50 | 6.49±2.24 | −.473 (.963) | .021 | |
| Diff | 3.12±1.49 | 2.25±1.06 | −1.491 (.153) | .666 | |
| t(p) | −6.618 (.000) | −6.676 (.000) | |||
| Pennation angle (degree) | Pre | 4.79±2.45 | 5.17±2.80 | −.323 (.750) | .144 |
| Post | 7.13±2.79 | 6.93±2.78 | .160 (.874) | .071 | |
| Diff | 2.34±0.79 | 1.76±0.70 | −1.720 (.102) | .769 | |
| t(p) | −9.263 (.000) | −7.885 (.000) | |||
| Pain-free grip strength (kg) | Pre | 28.87±10.58 | 29.93±11.05 | −.219 (.829) | .098 |
| Post | 35.34±12.25 | 34.53±11.36 | .153 (.880) | .068 | |
| Diff | 6.47±3.08 | 4.60±1.76 | −1.664 (.113) | .744 | |
| t(p) | −6.632 (.000) | −8.238 (.000) | |||
| Wrist extensor strength (kg) | Pre | 14.81±4.63 | 17.27±6.23 | −1.001 (.330) | .447 |
| Post | 19.51±4.65 | 21.99±5.57 | −1.080 (.294) | .482 | |
| Diff | 4.70±0.75 | 4.72±0.85 | .064 (.950) | .028 | |
| t(p) | −19.811 (.000) | −17.427 (.000) | |||
| Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation (score) | Pre | 44.50±6.64 | 41.30±6.55 | 1.085 (.292) | .485 |
| Post | 20.30±5.03 | 25.70±5.35 | −2.323 (.032) | 1.039 | |
| Diff | −24.20±4.02 | −15.60±3.71 | 4.965 (.000) | 2.220 | |
| t(p) | 19.026 (.000) | 13.269 (.000) | |||
| Quick Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (score) | Pre | 44.32±8.52 | 44.54±6.37 | −.065 (.949) | .029 |
| Post | 31.48±5.99 | 37.02±5.63 | −2.129 (.047) | .951 | |
| Diff | −12.83±4.97 | −7.51±4.72 | 2.451 (.025) | 1.096 | |
| t(p) | 8.155 (.000) | 5.022 (.001) | |||
| Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (score) | Pre | 23.60±6.27 | 25.80±6.37 | −.778 (.447) | .347 |
| Post | 18.30±3.49 | 23.30±5.18 | −2.528 (.021) | 1.130 | |
| Diff | −5.30±3.52 | −2.50±1.84 | 2.224 (.039) | .994 | |
| t(p) | 4.749 (.001) | 4.294 (.002) | |||
| The 12-Item Short Form Health Survey total (score) | Pre | 76.90±3.33 | 75.40±3.14 | 1.038 (.313) | .464 |
| Post | 95.49±9.87 | 87.88±6.73 | 2.012 (.059) | .899 | |
| Diff | 18.58±8.22 | 12.48±5.06 | −1.997 (.061) | .892 | |
| t(p) | −7.141 (.000) | −7.793 (.000) | |||
| SF-12Physical Component Summary (score) | Pre | 33.42±4.14 | 36.35±5.44 | −1.357 (.192) | .606 |
| Post | 44.34±4.48 | 39.87±4.59 | 2.201 (.041) | .984 | |
| Diff | 10.92±5.60 | 3.52±3.86 | −3.435 (.003) | 1.536 | |
| t(p) | −6.160 (.000) | −2.879 (.018) | |||
| SF-12Mental Component Summary (score) | Pre | 43.48±4.65 | 39.04±3.90 | 2.310 (.033) | 1.033 |
| Post | 51.15±6.34 | 48.01±4.22 | 1.301 (.210) | .582 | |
| Diff | 7.66±4.59 | 8.96±3.47 | .712 (.486) | .318 | |
| t(p) | −5.273 (.001) | −8.146 (.000) | |||
| EG – Experimental Group (BFRT); CG – Control Group (Conventional PT). Values are presented as mean±standard deviation (SD). Change values represent Post–Pre differences. Independent tests were used for between-group comparisons. Statistical significance was set at | |||||