Thomas E Yarrobino, John H Kalbfleisch, Kenneth E Ferslew, Peter C Panus
The purpose of this investigation was to examine the clinical use of lidocaine iontophoresis-mediated analgesia in a larger treatment algorithm for five patients with lateral humeral epicondylalgia. The investigation was a case series design of five subjects who received cryotherapy, cross-fibre massage and passive stretch at each treatment session. Between sessions analgesia was provided by an 80 mA-min low-current, long-duration lidocaine iontophoresis over a 24-hour period. Patients were treated on an every-other-day basis for a total of three treatment sessions. The authors concluded that pain associated with lateral epicondylalgia decreased, and function improved in all patients at the final measurement. They state that this investigation documents the potential for analgesia provided by lidocaine iontophoresis in the rehabilitation process of musculoskeletal dysfunction.
Physiotherapy Research International, Volume 11, Issue 3, Pages 152 – 160