Tennis elbow is a commonly referred to condition which impacts the elbow, causing pain in the outer part of the joint and also on the upper part of the forearm. It occurs due to inflammation of the tendon and the bony protuberance called the lateral epicondyle. Essentially, the injury is as a result of overusing the tendon on the outside of the elbow and this is also connected with extended wrist movement. It affects between one and three people out of every one hundred, but the age range most at risk are those between forty and fifty years of age. The symptoms may continue between six weeks and two years.
If you are suffering from tennis elbow, you may experience any of the following symptoms:
Pain or tenderness on the outside of the elbow
Weakness in the wrist
Difficulty when trying to extend the forearm
Pain when lifting the arm
Pain when bending the arm
Ongoing pain over a long period of time – up to several years if left untreated.
Tennis elbow cause
Although the term tennis elbow signifies that many tennis players may suffer from this condition, anyone who participates in racket sports, plays golf, or spends a lot of time gardening can also suffer with this condition. The muscle attachments along the outer part of the elbow sustain a great deal of tension, but tears in the tendon or muscle may sometimes occur.
Tennis elbow Treatment
In the first instance, rest is vital. This means resting the elbows and wrists while trying to reduce any inflammation. Applying ice is an effective approach in the first few days. You can also apply an elbow strap or brace if the pain and discomfort continues. Note that a traditional elbow support may not be useful. In addition, a cross friction massage will help to heal the tendon. If visiting your doctor, a steroid cortisone injection can be injected directly in the most painful part of the joint. It will not cure the condition, but will help to relieve some of the pain.
Chiropractic treatments
First, the Chiropractor will examine the elbow, wrist, shoulder and neck to ascertain functionality and movement. If you have an existing problem with your neck, this is likely to be significant and may predispose you toward tennis elbow. Blood circulation to the injured area must be improved and this can be utilized by adding alternate hot and cold compresses and then, massaging the muscles. This helps to reduce any tension or stress in the area.
Once pain starts to decrease, you must then begin a program of rehabilitation which includes stretching the affected muscles and the elbow. These exercises must be carried out slowly so not to aggravate any existing injury. Once pain subsides, it is important to then consider preventative measures and to warm up before and after any exercise. If you are a keen sports enthusiast, it would be wise to subsequently review any existing techniques to ensure this is not causing overuse of the tendons. Regular top-up treatments with the Chiropractor may be required; more so if the neck condition is already in place.
