Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow is a Pain!

If you have ever had tennis elbow you know that it is painful. Tennis elbow, aka lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition that is caused by irritation of the extensors of the wrist where they attach to the elbow.  This condition earned it’s name because the forceful grip used in tennis, especially during a backhand shot, places loads of stress on the involved muscles and tendons. Once these muscles and tendons are inflamed even simple tasks that involve grasping or repetition (such as keyboard use) can become too painful to perform.    

Understanding Tennis Elbow

Lateral epicondylitis affects the muscles and the tendons that allow us to extend our wrists. Usually this condition will show itself on your dominant side and quickly causes you to modify tasks with that hand. Like I mentioned earlier, tennis elbow will cause pain with forceful gripping, repetitive tasks and rotational movements like those found when turning a key in lock. Because of the presence of inflammation, lateral epicondylitis will also limit your endurance when performing any of these movements.

Treatment of tennis elbow begins with limiting the activities that aggravate the irritated and inflamed structures.  Since this condition normally affects people on their dominant side, limiting activities can be both challenging and frustrating.  For many people with lateral epicondylitis, the pain that they experience is only present while they are performing an aggravating activity.  Aside from avoiding aggravating activities, patients have to ice their elbow at least 3 times daily in 30 minute sessions in order to help reduce inflammation.  Some patients can get relief with a lateral epicondylitis support. similar to this one available on Amazon.

Chiropractic care is effective for this condition because it improves the range of motion of the elbow and decreases inflammation in the muscles and ligaments.  Initial treatment is structured to reduce pain while care beyond that is geared toward improving function and full, pain free range of motion.

For more information on tennis elbow and tendonitis click the link below.
http://www.chiropractorsandiegomissionvalley.com/tendonitis/

 

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