Cross friction massage therapy: to do or not to do?

Two very nice articles related to cross friction massage therapy. I strongly suggest that you read them and then make your on decision on whether and how to use this massage technique:

http://www.physio-pedia.com/Cross_friction_massage

http://saveyourself.ca/articles/frictions.php

Enjoy them and always try to be evidence based practitioner..!

Regional interdependence in treatment of the elbow

Regional Interdependence

• Treatment directed at one area of the body to elicit changes in another.
• In addition to treatment directed at the elbow, patients with elbow pain may benefit from treatment directed at the cervical or thoracic spines, and/or wrist.

Examination 

• Differential diagnosis for Lateral Epicondylalgia can be done through Elbow Examination
• Prior to performing interventions directed at the spine, appropriate examination and safety screens should be performed.

• Cervical Examination and screen for Red Flags
• Vertebral Artery Test
• Transverse Ligament Stress Test
• Tests for Cervical Instability
• Thoracic Examination 

Read more here for intervention methods and techniques.

Clinical Bottom Line 

Incorporating manual therapy directed at the cervical spine, thoracic spine, cervico-thoracic junction, wrist, and carpals appear to provide benefits for patients with lateral epicondylalgia, cubital tunnel syndrome, and nerve entrapment. Clinicians may consider these interventions in addition to treatment directed only at the elbow. More specific information can be found in the references below.

Assessment & treatment guidelines_1

Physiotherapy assessment and treatment in Physical Therapy education is something that you will start doing from day 1.

I believe that there is only one way to be good in that - by organizing all this information in nice documents and have them in your portfolio to access them anytime.

Here is a small file I have created with assessment and treatment guidelines for the following cases:

Osteoarthritis of the hip

Knee trauma

Acute ankle sprain

Thoracic outlet syndrome

Olecranon fracture

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Low back pain (non-specific, sub-acute phase)

Shoulder pain

Tennis elbow

Colles fracture