OBJECTIVETo observe the different effects of electroacupuncture of different frequencies for treatment of patients with refractory tennis elbow syndrome.

METHODSEighty five patients with refractory tennis elbow syndrome were randomly devided into continuous wave group (n=41) and rarefaction wave group (n= 44). The same acupoints were selected in both groups, and the major acupoints were the tenderness point around affected area in both groups. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the tenderness score of each patient in both groups. The effectiveness was evaluated by the tenderness score.

RESULTSThe effective rate was 82. 9% in continuous wave group, and 84. 1% in rarefaction wave group, with no significant difference in statistical analysis (P>0.05). The healing rate was 56. 8% in rarefaction wave group, better than 31. 7% in continuous wave group (P<0.05). The VAS scores were significantly reduced after electroacupuncture treatment in both groups (both P<0.001). There was significant difference in decreasing the VAS score between two groups after treatment (P<0.05), and the rarefaction wave group was better than the continuous wave group.

CONCLUSIONThe electroacupuncture of rarefaction wave is better than the electroacupuncture of continuous wave, therefore, it is a better treatment for refractory tennis elbow syndrome.