Understanding Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Are you constantly battling a nagging pain in your elbow that just won’t go away? If so, you might be suffering from tennis elbow, a condition that plagues not just tennis players, but anyone who engages in repetitive arm and wrist movements.
Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common condition characterized by pain and tenderness on the outer part of the elbow. Despite its name it can affect anyone who engages in activities that involve repetitive gripping, lifting, or twisting of the forearm. The condition arises when the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle (the bony bump on the outer part of the elbow) become damaged or inflamed due to overuse.
The microscopic tearing of the tendon fibres results in a cascade of inflammatory responses, leading to the classic symptoms of tennis elbow: pain, weakness, and limited mobility. Left untreated, this condition can significantly impact your daily life and hinder your ability to perform even the simplest tasks.
Treatment Options
Treatment options vary, depending on the severity of the condition, but here are some common approaches:
- Rest and Modification of Activities: The first step is often to reduce or modify the activities that exacerbate the pain. Resting the affected arm and avoiding the repetitive movements can help alleviate symptoms.
- Chiropractic: Manual therapy to the elbow and surrounding tissue helps reduce pain, increase range of motion and facilitate the healing process of tennis elbow.
- Exercise Rehabilitation: Targeted exercises and stretches help alleviate pain and improve tendon stability and strength. These exercises help prevent further injury and the tendon to heal.
- Bracing and Support: Wearing an elbow brace or strap can help alleviate pressure on the affected tendons, reducing pain during activities.
- Medications: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed to manage pain and inflammation.
- Corticosteroid Injections: In more severe cases, corticosteroid injections may be recommended to reduce inflammation.
- Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy: This emerging treatment involves using your own platelets to promote healing in the affected area.
- Surgery: In rare cases where conservative treatments fail, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove damaged tissue and promote healing.
How can Chiropractic care help?
When treating Tennis elbow, a multi-modal approach to care works best. Incorporating manual therapy such as dry needling and other soft tissue techniques are important to reduce pain. Once pain is at a manageable level, exercise rehabilitation is paramount. Our Chiropractor can guide you through exercises that strengthen the affected tendons and muscles, ultimately promoting healthy healing of the injured tendon and a full recovery.
If you are experiencing elbow pain, with a suspected tennis elbow and want a proper diagnosis, please book in to see our Chiropractor at Smart Health & Performance today.
