Get A Grip on Your Elbow Pain
Tennis Elbow and Chiropractic – Game on!
Whether you’re an ace on the court or have never picked up a racquet, your elbow pain may be lateral epicondylitis (aka, tennis elbow). Tennis elbow is a painful overuse condition of the muscles that allow your wrist and elbow to extend. These muscles attach on the outside (lateral) portion of your elbow on the rounded, bony prominence (epicondyles). They control movement at the wrist and elbow and are involved in gripping activities and rotational movements of the forearm.
How Tennis Elbow Develops
Tennis elbow is a form of tendinitis, a medical term describing a tendon’s inflammation or irritation. Tendons are connective tissues that attach muscle to bone. When tendons are used repeatedly in the same motion, they become inflamed and painful to the point where they attach to the bone. Tendinitis can occur at any tendon/bone connection in the body, with some of the most common areas of tendinitis occurring at the knee, hip, shoulder, and elbow.
Tennis elbow can be caused by recreational activities such as tennis or gardening or occupations with repetitive motions such as painting, automotive mechanics, or assembly line work.
What Does It Feel Like?
The pain often feels sharp and burning near the elbow and can radiate into your forearm and wrist. With severe tennis elbow, symptoms can make it difficult to hold objects, even as light as a cup of water!
Other symptoms can include:
- Stiffness in the elbow, especially when straightening the arm
- Weakness in the forearm, wrist, or hand
- Pain when twisting or bending your arm (for instance, turning a doorknob or opening a jar)
- Swelling of the elbow that can be tender to touch
Chiropractic Treatment of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a common condition that chiropractors treat— reducing pain and improving function through various methods. During a thorough evaluation, your chiropractor will measure your elbow, wrist, and hand strength and range of motion. They’ll ask you questions about when your pain/symptoms first started. With your long-term goals in mind, they’ll create a customized care plan to reduce your pain through services such as:
Chiropractic Adjustment Of Your Neck
Neck pain is commonly associated with tennis elbow. And even if you don’t feel discomfort in your neck, a cervical adjustment is crucial to your recovery. Misalignments are very common in the cervical region of the spine. A chiropractor can adjust your neck to ensure no interruption or interference in your nervous system. Any interference or misalignment can cause inflammation of your tendons, causing weakness, which could be contributing to your tennis elbow.
Not only will chiropractic adjustments help the pain in your elbow, but these adjustments will proactively restore mobility and any other misalignments in your spine you may not be aware of. A healthy spine is essential to your overall health and well-being. Your chiropractor may also adjust your elbow, shoulder, and wrist. Lack of mobility in these areas could be causing strain or putting stress on your elbow.
Therapeutic Techniques and Exercises
These may include therapeutic massage, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, cupping, or dry needling. These hands-on services will improve blood flow to the impacted tissues and promote healing from within. Strengthening and flexibility will also be essential to your recovery. Your chiropractor will help select appropriate stretches and carefully educate you on performing them independently. Stretching will help you regain normal function through full joint and soft tissue mobility. With tennis elbow, there’s often a strength imbalance in the forearm muscles. Your chiropractor will assess your strength and provide exercises uniquely tailored to you to improve strength and promote a better balance. While conditions such as tennis elbow are entirely avoidable, your chiropractor will provide education about how to prevent your pain from returning.
Reach for Relief from Tennis Elbow
Chiropractors are experts in injury prevention, and as you progress through your care, your chiropractor will provide tips and suggestions on avoiding further injury or re-injury. Tennis elbow is a pesky problem that can make work and play challenging. While you may be able to manage the pain initially, ignoring symptoms can lead to prolonged pain. With your trusted chiropractor on your team, you’ll be back on the court before you know it. Call your nearest MCR Chiropractic to schedule an appointment or complete the form below!
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