82 patients with persisting (over 3 months) unilateral lateral epicondylitis participated in this study to compare muscle energy techniques (MET) to corticosteroid steroid injections (CSI) in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. Patients participated in 8 sessions of muscle energy technique over the course of 4 weeks or were administered a single injection of triamcinolone acetonide and lidocaine. Patients were assessed at 6, 26 and 52 week follow-ups. Both treatments resulted in improved pain and function throughout the one year study period. CSI patients experienced accelerated results in the first 6 post-treatment weeks. However after 1 year, patients who underwent muscle energy techniques had superior outcomes concerning pain-free grip strength and pain intensity.