Table 1.

Demographics, treatments and outcome measures in the eleven included studies

Study and year setting and sample size	Women (percentages)	Age (mean if not otherwise stated)	Duration of discomforts (weeks)	Treatment groups	Control group	Outcome measures (excerpts)	Follow-up (weeks)
Bisset et al 2006 Outpatient clinic n=198	35	47.6 (SD 7.8)	22 (median) (IQR 12–42)	(1) 10 mg Triamcinolone and 1 mL lidocaine against the most painful point repeated after 2 weeks (2) Elbow manipulation (manipulation with movement) and exercise 8 sessions of 30 min duration during a 6 week period and home exercise	Information, wait-and-see	Improvement on 6-point Likert-scale PFGS assessed severity on VAS Pain on VAS Pain-free function questionnaire	52
Coombes et al 2013 Community setting n=165	38	49.7 (SD 8.1)	16 (median) (IQR 10–26)	(1) One injection of 1 mL triamcinolone 10 mL/mL and 1 mL lignocaine 1% against site of greatest palpable tenderness at the common extensor origin (2) Elbow manipulation (manipulation with movement) and exercise 8 sessions of 30 min duration during a 8 week period and home exercise (3) One injection of triamcinolone followed by 8 sessions of elbow manipulation and exercise, home exercise for 8 weeks (not considered in this review)	Placebo injection 0.5 mL 0.9% isotonic saline	Improvement on 6-point Likert-scale 1 year recurrence Pain on VAS PRTEE questionnaire EuroQol-EQ-5D quality-of-life score	52
Hay et al 1999 General practice n=164	Group 1:41 (Group 2:53) Control:48	Age ≥45:(percentages) Group 1:70 (Group 2:68) Control:38	9 (mean) Percentage with pain >3 months: Group 1:36 (Group 2:25) Control:31	(1) One injection of methylprednisolone 20 mg and 0.5 mL 1% lignocaine towards tender spot (2) Naproxen orally 500 mg twice daily for 2 weeks (not considered in this review)	Placebo tablets	Improvement on 5-point Likert-scale Pain on 10-point Likert-scale Function on 10-point Likert-scale Main discomfort on 10-point Likert-scale Disability questionnaire PFGS	52
Price et al 1991 Outpatient clinic n=88	Group 1:48 Group 2:43 Control:38	Group 1:47 Group 2:47 Control:46 (Median)	Group 1:20 (6–150) Group 2:36 (6–154) Control:16 (6–150) (Median and range)	(1) Hydrocortisone 25 mg and 1% lidocaine against tender point (2 mL fluid) (55% received 2 injections) (2) Triamcinolone 10 mg and 1% lidocaine (30% received two injections)	2 mL 1% lidocaine against tender point	Pain on VAS Tenderness score Pain-weighted grip strength	24
Smidt et al 2002 General practice n=185	Group 1:55 (Group 2:44) Control: 53	Group 1: 47 (Group 2:48) Control: 46 (Median)	Group 1:11 (8–16) (Group 2:11 (8–21)) Control:11 (8–21) (Median and IQR)	(1) 10 mg triamcinolone and 1 mL lidocain against all tender points up to three injections (2) One group received physiotherapy with ultrasound (not considered in this review)	Wait-and-see (some were prescribed naproxen orally 1000 mg daily)	Improvement on 6-point Likert scale Severity of discomfort on scale Questionnaires PFGS Maximum grip strength (MGS) Pressure-pain measurements Satisfaction with treatment	52
Toker et al 2008 Outpatient clinic n=21	43	45 (range 19–72)	Not stated	One injection of 1 mL metylprednisolon and 1 mL prilocain with oral diklofenac three tablets (dose not stated) and etofenamate topically	Oral diklofenac three tablets (dose not stated) and etofenamate topically	Perceived absence of pain Absence of pain on palpation over lateral epicondyle and on isometric dorsiflection of wrist pain score	4
Lindenhovius et al 2008 Outpatient clinic n=64	Treatment: 63 Control: 60	Treatment: 50±8 Control: 51±10	Treatment: 12±4 (2–20) Control: 8±4 (1–20)	4 mg dexamethasone and 10 mg lidocaine (2 mL fluid) against the most tender spot, fanning of the needle. One injection—but 6 of 64 got 2 injections	10 mg lidocain, 2 mL fluid total	DASH questionnaire* Pain on VAS Grip strength	26
Newcomer et al 2001 Outpatient clinic n=39	51	Treatment: 46.0± 7.0 Control: 44.6±7.6	Treatment: 3.2 (mean) SD 0.8 Control: 3.4 (mean) SD 0.9	One injection of 5 mL 4:1 0.25% bupivacaine and 6 mg/mL β-methasone against tender point. Home exercises consisting of ice massage, wrist stretching and progressive eccentric and concentric exercises	Placeboinjection of 5 mL bupivacaine Home exercises consisting of ice massage, wrist stretching and progressive eccentric and concentric exercises	Pain on VAS Functional pain questionnaire (PFGS at 4 and 8 weeks)	26
M-Silvestrini et al 2005 Outpatient clinic n=94	47	45.5±7.7	More than 12	(1) Concentric strengthening 3×10 repetitions once daily and wrist stretching twice daily for 6 weeks (2) Eccentric strengthening 3×10 repetitions once daily and wrist stretching twice daily for 6 weeks	Wrist stretching twice daily for 6 weeks	PFGS Pain on VAS PRFEQ questionnaire Patient's log of training DASH questionnaire*	6
Peterson et al 2011 General practice n=81	42	48	Treatment: 107 Control: 96	Three-month daily exercise regime performed at home with progressively increasing load on the extensor muscles	Information, wait-and-see	Pain on VAS during contraction and during elongation of forearm muscles Muscle strength with hand-held dynamometer DASH questionnaire	12
Selvanetti et al 2003 Setting not stated n=62	Treatment: 45 Control: 48	Treatment: 41.3 Control: 40.5	Treatment: 28 (8–40) Control: 29 (12–44)	4 weeks home-exercise after instruction from physiotherapist consisting of stretching and eccentric exercise Counselling and use of elbow support	Sham ultrasound 20 sessions Counseling and use of elbow support	Ko scoring system (includes clench test, Thomsen test and pain) Verhaar scoring system on global improvement Subjective improvement VAS scale (0–100)	44 (24–56)

*DASH questionnaire is an upper extremity specific health status measure.

DASH,Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand; PFGS, Pain-Free Grip Strength;PRFEQ, Patient-rated Forearm Evaluation Questionnaire; PRTEE questionnaire, Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Score, VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.