Tennis elbow - Without Ever Playing Tennis!
by Dr. Steven Trembecki, D.C
Tennis elbow, medically named lateral epicondylitis, is an inflammatory condition affecting the outside of the elbow.
This elbow pain is due to tendonitis and periostitis (inflammation of the outer layer of the bone) where the tendon for the common wrist extensor muscles attaches to the humerus. This results in pain with any activity involving the contraction or moderate stretching of the wrist extensor muscles.
These activities would include writing, typing, lifting objects while the palm is turned down, or using a screwdriver. The pain usually has a gradual onset with no visible swelling. Stiffness or pain in the elbow is usually evident after prolonged periods of rest.
How do you know if you have tennis elbow? Try lifting a book with your palm facing down to the floor. If it causes pain on the outside of the elbow, you probably have tennis elbow.
As you can see, tennis elbow is ultimately caused by overuse of the wrist extensor (straightening) muscles which, by means of the tendons, connect to the elbow. Classically this is caused by the tennis backhand but, as we have seen, can also be caused by other types of repetitive activity.
Too much tension in the muscle group can also cause a decrease in the joint space in the elbow and actual inflammation of the joint. In time this can cause not just the typical pain from the epicondylitis, but also from the elbow joint itself.
Treatment usually involves taking anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant medication, along with some lifestyle modification. Also used are physiotherapy treatments such as TENS, laser therapy, ultrasound, and interferential current.
Chiropractic techniques that work well with this condition include soft-tissue therapies such as active release technique, Graston, or cross-fiber friction massage. Chiropractic adjusting of the lateral elbow, including the proximal radial-ulnar joint and the radial-humeral joint, appear to be quite beneficial.
With adjusting, the two joint surfaces are spread apart an estimated one to three millimeters momentarily. This leads to an increase in volume and decrease in pressure in the joint. This will assist in the decrease in pain from the pressure built up in the joint from the condition of lateral epicondylitis. Adjusting of the wrist may be of some benefit as well.
The theory is that since the muscles involved with this condition help to move the wrist, it should aid in the speed of recovery if the wrist motion is maintained. If the wrist tightens, the muscles need to work harder to move the wrist. This results in tightness in the wrist extensors which then exacerbates the condition.
Another therapy that can be very helpful is the use of an elbow band. This works by transferring the tendon's tension from its attachment to the bone (where it causes the pain) to the band instead.
Rest would, of course, be ideal. But sometimes some lifting has to be done. In that case , be careful to make sure that you only lift with the palm of the hand turned upward. This causes the wrist flexors to be used more than the wrist extensors.
You can also try supplementing with Vitamin B6 and limiting your salt intake as it helps to reduce the amount of water taken in by the body.
Overall, if you suspect you may have this condition, it is best to have it assessed by your chiropractor and/or medical doctor in order to have the proper treatment plan started that will assist in accelerated recovery.
Time to find a
tennis elbow treatment that works? Check out our other articles by Dr. Steven Trembecki, D.C. on this and other
chiropractic treatments. This article is available as a
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