The Efficacy of Different Types of Stretching on Range of Motion, Pain and Function in Elbow Limitation

For hold-relax stretching, each subject in PNF Stretching group will be comfortably positioned in a supine lying position, and patient will move the joint to the end of the passive or pain-free ROM. The therapist will ask for an isometric contraction of the restricting muscle or pattern (antagonists) with emphasis on rotation. The patients will be asked to perform submaximal isometric contractions of the target muscle for 10 seconds. After the contraction, the patients will be instructed to relax for 5 seconds. The joint will be repositioned actively to the new limit of range, and then therapist will passively control the new ROM. The procedure will be repeated 10 times with 10 seconds of rest between two successive trials. Patients will be treated 2 times per week for 6 weeks.

For static stretching, each subject in Static Stretching group will be comfortably positioned in a supine lying position, and the stretching of target muscle will be maintained for 20 seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest. The procedure will be repeated 10 times with 10 seconds of rest between two successive trials. Patients will be treated 2 times per week for 6 weeks.

Shoulder, elbow and wrist AROM exercises. Elbow flexion and extansion self-stretching exercises Elbow and wrist strengthening exercises Proprioception exercises for elbow. Grip strengthening exercises.

Cold therapy will be applied over the elbow for 15 minutes in the form of cold pack after stretching and exercise protocol.