| Objective: To observe the long term effect of muscle energy technique (MET) used in the treatment of tendinitis of long head of biceps brachii. Methods: Forty-two patients with tendinitis of long head of biceps brachii were randomly assigned into 2 groups (n=21 each). The control group was treated with corticosteroid injection, and the observation group was given MET. The two groups were assessed with muscle strength test and visual analogue scale (VAS) before treatment and at the end of the treatment period (3 weeks), and assessed with Constant at 3rd month, 6th month and 1st year during the follow-up period after the treatment. Results: At the end of treatment (3 weeks), the strength of the biceps was significantly higher than before treatment (P<0.01), more significantly in the observation group than in the control group (P<0.01). The VAS scores in the two groups were significantly decreased after treatment as compared with those before treatment (P<0.01), more significantly in the control group than in the observation group (P<0.01). At 3rd month, 6th month, and 1st year during the follow-up period after the treatment, the Constant scores in two groups were higher than pretreatment, and those in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion: The short-term analgesic efficacy of corticosteroid injection in the tendinitis of long head of biceps brachii is better than MET, but the long-term effect of MET in treating tendinitis of long head of biceps brachii is affirmative, and was obviously better than corticosteroid injection. |
