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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection for Tennis Elbow (IMPROVE Trial)

N/A
Waitlist Available
Led By Mary M Chiavaras, MD, PhD
Research Sponsored by McMaster University
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Adult man or woman aged 18 years or greater.
Clinical diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis based on site of pain, pain elicited with active extension of the wrist in pronation and elbow extension.
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up baseline, 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12, 24 months
Awards & highlights

IMPROVE Trial Summary

This trial will compare four different treatments for tennis elbow: platelet rich plasma, whole blood, dry needle tendon fenestration, and sham injection (with physical therapy).

Eligible Conditions
  • Tennis Elbow

IMPROVE Trial Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

IMPROVE Trial Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~baseline, 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12, 24 months
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and baseline, 6 weeks, 3, 6, 12, 24 months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Outcome measures can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary outcome measures
Pain Reduction
Secondary outcome measures
Functional Disability
Health-Related Quality of Life
Psychological Impairment

IMPROVE Trial Design

4Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Placebo Group
Group I: Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) InjectionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Patients in this arm will receive a platelet rich plasma injection at the site of their lateral epicondylitis, followed by post-treatment physical therapy exercises.
Group II: Whole Blood InjectionActive Control1 Intervention
Patients in this arm will receive a whole blood injection at the site of their lateral epicondylitis, followed by post-treatment physical therapy exercises.
Group III: Dry Needle FenestrationActive Control1 Intervention
Patients in this arm will receive 15-25 gentle strokes of dry needling (piercing of the tendon) at the site of their lateral epicondylitis, followed by post-treatment physical therapy exercises. No blood will be injected into the tendon.
Group IV: Sham InjectionPlacebo Group1 Intervention
Patients in this arm will receive a sham injection, followed by post-treatment physical therapy exercises. No blood will be injected into the tendon.

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Radiological Society of North AmericaOTHER
25 Previous Clinical Trials
1,719 Total Patients Enrolled
The Physicians' Services Incorporated FoundationOTHER
162 Previous Clinical Trials
26,655 Total Patients Enrolled
McMaster UniversityLead Sponsor
879 Previous Clinical Trials
2,596,876 Total Patients Enrolled

Frequently Asked Questions

These questions and answers are submitted by anonymous patients, and have not been verified by our internal team.
~8 spots leftby Mar 2025