The aim of the present study was to compare the effectiveness of chiropractic care and ultrasound in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. The research took the form of a small-scale randomized, prospective clinical trial. The participants were 13 patients aged between 32 and 64 years who presented with lateral epicondylitis. The interventions were either chiropractic care consisting of adjustments (manipulation) to the elbow, as well as stretching and strengthening exercises, or ultrasound treatment alone of the area around the lateral epicondyle. An average of two treatments per week for 6 weeks were given. All patients received an advice sheet on tennis elbow. The main outcome measures were a visual analogue scale to assess pain intensity, pain-free grip strength, a pain-free function (PFF) questionnaire for lateral epicondylitis and five-point verbal rating scale for the patient's global assessment of improvement. Assessments were done before the first treatment, and after 3 and 6 weeks of treatment. A total of 13 patients completed the trial, seven in the chiropractic care group and six in the ultrasound group. There was a significant improvement for both groups in all outcome measures when comparing the initial evaluation to the final one. Ultrasound was significantly better in reducing pain and improving PFF. Both treatments are effective in treating lateral epicondylitis. This might suggest that a combined therapy approach would be of most benefit.

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