L1: What to prescribe them for and how to prescribe them

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What to prescribe them for

See Exercises for lateral epicondylalgia

How to prescribe them

This series of exercises is based on the concept of progressive resistance which follows a number of principles:1,2

• Perform a small number of repetitions until fatigue
• Ensure adequate rest between exercises for recovery
• Increase the resistance as the capacity to generate force increases
• Perform each exercise slowly over eight seconds

The goal of this type of intervention is to increase the muscles’ ability to generate force in circumstances where a lack of force is affecting the patient’s ability to perform everyday activities.3 

They are best performed once per day with supervision (if possible) and four to six times daily at home.1 Unlike eccentric exercise this exercise series is not designed to be pain provocative and the patient should be able to perform them without too much discomfort. If they do experience pain you may ask them to cease that particular exercise.