KINESIOTAPING IN THE COMPLEX PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS IN ADOLESCENT TENNIS PLAYERS

Abstract

Topicality. Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is the most common cause of elbow pain and is commonly seen in racket sports players with a reported incidence of 9–35% and prevalence of 14–41% among tennis players. The aim of the study was to systematize current data on the causes and prevention of injuries in adolescents (10–19 years) in tennis, and to analyze the effectiveness of kinesiotaping as a method of reducing pain syndrome in the presence of symptoms of lateral epicondylitis. Materials and methods. The study involved 16 adolescents (7 boys and 9 girls). The mean agewas 13.5 ± 0.9 years, the mean duration of symptoms was 3.8 ± 1.2 months. The lesion was observed in 12 right and4 left elbows, which ensures gender equality in the distribution of the sample of respondents and allows us to considerthe sample representative. The survey was conducted anonymously, via a Google form, ensuring the confidentiality of the study. Research results. The results showed that both taping sessions (CT and ST) significantly improved painduring resisted wrist extension and pain-free grip strength. However, CT was superior to ST in reducing pain during resisted wrist extension, resulting in a mean decrease of 2.1 points on the VAS scale, reaching the minimum acceptable deviation. Our results support the use of CT as a temporary treatment for pain caused by lateral epicondylitis. The results show that CT significantly improved pain scores per kilogram. Conclusions. 1. Lateral epicondylitis is a common injury among adolescents who play tennis and has a multifactorial etiology. 2. Kinesio taping has shown statisticallysignificant effectiveness in reducing pain syndrome in lateral epicondylitis compared to simulated taping. 3. The KTmethod contributes to the modulation of sensory signals, reducing the load on the lateral epicondyle and improving functional indicators, such as extensor strength and range of motion. 4. Despite the positive results, limitations of thestudy include a small sample size, short-term assessment of effects (up to 60 minutes) and a fixed load, which does notallow extrapolation of the results to all sporting situations. 5. Further studies with larger samples and a longer follow-upperiod are needed to confirm the long-term effectiveness of KT and its impact on sports performance.