Two Tennis Elbow Treatments Show Similar Pain Relief After 6 Months

Researchers have directly compared two popular non-surgical treatments for chronic tennis elbow, finding that both ozone therapy and extracorporeal shockwave therapy deliver comparable pain relief and functional improvement. The head-to-head comparison addresses a significant gap in treatment guidance for the condition that affects up to 3% of adults annually.

Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, causes persistent pain on the outer edge of the elbow where tendons attach to bone. The condition often develops from repetitive gripping or wrist extension activities, creating a cycle of inflammation and tissue damage that can persist for months or years. Despite numerous available treatments, clinicians have lacked clear evidence about which non-surgical approaches work best.

The study examined ozone therapy, which involves injecting medical-grade ozone gas into the affected tissue to potentially reduce inflammation and promote healing, versus extracorporeal shockwave therapy, where focused sound waves are applied to the painful area to stimulate tissue repair. Both treatments have gained popularity among sports medicine specialists and orthopedic practitioners as alternatives to steroid injections or surgery.

The comparative effectiveness data fills a crucial evidence gap in tennis elbow management, where treatment decisions often rely on provider preference or patient factors rather than head-to-head research. This finding suggests that patients and doctors can choose between these modalities based on practical considerations like availability, cost, and patient comfort rather than expecting significant differences in therapeutic outcomes.