Presentation title
The Importance of Acupuncture and Neural Therapy in Lateral Epicondylitis Patients
Scheduled
Day 2, 11:00 -12:30
Presentation summary
Co-Authors :
Prof. Dr. med. Fatma Gülçin URAL NAZLIKUL1,2
Prof. Dr. Dr. H. NAZLIKUL3,4,5
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Health and Technology University, Istanbul, Türkiye
2President of the Association for Scientific Complementary Medicine and Regulation (BTR), Istanbul, Türkiye.
3President of IFMANT (International Federation of Medical Associations of Neural Therapy), Schattenhalb, Switzerland.
4President of the Turkish Neural Therapy Society ( BNR)
5Specialist in General Medicine, Pain Medicine and Medical Biophysics. Private practice at the Natural Health Clinic, Istanbul, Türkiye.
Lateral epicondylitis (LE), commonly known as tennis elbow, is one of the most prevalent elbow disorders. Its primary symptom is tenderness and pain, particularly during repetitive use of the wrist extensor muscles. LE equally affects men and women, with an onset age typically between 35 and 55 years. The condition is an overuse injury, characterized by pain on the lateral aspect of the elbow, which often radiates down the forearm. The pathology primarily involves the failure of the common extensor tendon, specifically the extensor carpi radialis brevis portion.
Acupuncture is a well-established traditional treatment method used for various types of pain for centuries. The mechanism of action of acupuncture is explained through several theories. Firstly, acupuncture likely exerts its effects through the activation of sensory receptors in the skin, muscles, and other innervated structures. The stimulation of afferent fibers triggers pain modulation pathways, similar to the gate-control mechanism. Secondly, acupuncture has a neuropharmacological effect, as studies have shown that it increases endorphin levels in various parts of the central nervous system, thereby providing analgesia.
Neural therapy, on the other hand, aims to regulate the autonomic nervous system rather than merely providing local anesthesia (except for diagnostic purposes). Needle stimulation combined with local anesthetics induces vasodilation and anti-inflammatory effects, interrupting the vicious cycle of pain and dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system and tissue perfusion.
Several conventional therapies are available for the management of tennis elbow, including acupuncture and neural therapy. Since the disease process varies from patient to patient, treatment protocols must be individualized to achieve optimal outcomes.
Keywords : Lateral epicondylitis, acupuncture, neural therapy, pain management
Conflict of interest
No
dr.gulcin.ural@gmail.com
Prof. Dr.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialist
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Istanbul Health and Technology University, Istanbul, Türkiye
She graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 2007. She started her specialization training at Ankara Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Hospital in 2008.
She became a Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Specialist in 2013 and received the title of Assistant Professor in Yıldırım Beyazıt University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2015 and Associate Professor in 2018.
In 2025, she received the title of Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine at İstanbul Health and Technology University.
She has certificates in acupuncture, neural therapy, manual therapy, cupping, mesotherapy, prolotherapy and kinesiology and academic studies in these fields. She also serves as an Acupuncture Course Instructor at more universities in Türkiye.
She has participated in many congresses related to her field. She has served as a speaker in many national and international Complementary Medicine Congresses.