Do Hand Therapists Have a Role in Workplace-based Education to Manage Tennis Elbow? Beliefs About Effective Treatments Among Australian Hand Therapists and Medical Practitioners

Background: Lateral elbow tendinopathy (LET), commonly known as tennis elbow, is a prevalent work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder. Medical practitioners and hand therapists manage LET with commonly available clinic-based treatments, despite no sound evidence to suggest long-term relief and functional restoration for workers with LET. Workplace-based rehabilitation is effective for injured workers with other health conditions, but no studies have investigated this rehabilitation approach in the management of LET.

Objectives: (i) Identify, compare, and contrast Australian hand therapists' and medical practitioners' perceptions about the effectiveness of common treatments for LET, and (ii) obtain their views towards a hand therapist delivered workplace-based education approach.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 38 medical practitioners from Western Australia and 104 hand therapists around Australia completed online surveys. Independent t-tests were used to identify between-group differences in responses.

Results: Despite some between-group differences regarding the perceived effectiveness of common LET treatments, both groups believed education about LET pathology, activity modification, postures, and workplace recommendations were most effective. Most medical practitioners (81%) and hand therapists (71%) believed workplace-based education delivered by a hand therapist would be beneficial for patients with acute and chronic LET.

Conclusion: Australian hand therapists and medical practitioners believed educational approaches were the most important component in the management of LET, and supported workplace-based educational interventions provided by hand therapists in the management of LET.