Physical Therapy Evaluation Tool (PEAT) 2 Practice Exam

Chronic lateral epicondylitis responds best to a home program that gradually loads the wrist extensors through strengthening and stretching. This approach helps remodel the degenerative tendon tissue and increases its capacity to handle stress during daily activities. Stretching keeps the tendon length-balanced and reduces excessive tension, while progressive strengthening—starting with light resistance and advancing—improves the tendon’s strength and endurance, particularly of the extensor muscles near the elbow. Increasing loading with a forearm cuff would raise tendon stress and likely worsen symptoms in a chronic phase, making it unsuitable for a home program. Iontophoresis with steroids is a pharmacologic treatment administered in a clinical or facility setting and does not provide a structured exercise plan. Friction massage of the brachioradialis tendon is a manual therapy technique typically performed by a clinician for symptom relief, not a patient-directed home regimen that builds tendon resilience. So, focusing on a patient-led program of wrist extensor stretches and progressive strengthening best aligns with promoting healing and functional improvement.