The term tennis elbow is used because the muscles affected are typically related to a racket backhand movement. However, you do not need to be a tennis player to experience it. Tennis Elbow can affect people from disciplines like carpenters, swimmers, meat cutters, baseball players, and plumbers.
Tennis elbow will affect anyone who engages in repetitive arm movements. After a long time of these movements, you will develop pain in the elbow. Usually, other aches and pains accompany this condition, such as forearm, neck, and shoulder pain.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
It can come in two main forms, each brought about by a different cause. The symptoms can be acute, resulting from inflammation, or chronic, resulting from a degenerating tendon.
Acute
An acute tennis elbow occurs from inflammation in the bony bump and tendons in the outer parts of the elbow. The inflammation develops due to the stress on the structures from repetitive motion. The repetitive motion irritates and injures the tendons, causing them to inflame.
Chronic
Chronic tennis elbow is the most common among non-athletes between 35 and 55. As mentioned above, it results from degenerative tendons. When the tendon degenerates, it is replaced by poorly organized scar tissue. The scar tissue that forms is not strong enough, leading to a weak elbow that predisposes you to future injury.
How Do You Know You Have Tennis Elbow?
A common symptom of tennis elbow is a painful bony knob on the outside of the elbow. Pain focuses on this point because it is the contact place of the injured tendons to the bone. Another symptom accompanying pain in the elbow is a pain in the lower or upper arm.
Below are other symptoms that let you know if you have the condition:
- Pain when you try to lift something
- Pain when you grip an object or make a fist
- Pain when you open a door
- Pain when you straighten your wrists or raise your hand
- Pain when you type on a computer
Can A Chiropractor Treat Tennis Elbow?
A chiropractor is your best bet for resolving tennis elbow. They will first examine your pain and run a few tests to determine the form of tennis elbow you have. Depending on the test results, they will develop a treatment plan for you. The treatment may include the following:
- Elbow and wrist adjustments to help decrease inflammation and compression in the joints, leading to the mobilization of the same.
- They may perform a myofascial release on the forearm muscles to eliminate the scar tissues in the tendons and muscles.
- They may perform electrical stimulation of the muscles, which helps reduce tautness and inflammation and boost circulation, which promotes healing.
How Will A Chiropractor Help Prevent Tennis Elbow?
After the treatment, a chiropractor will educate you on strategies to help you avoid tennis elbow. They will advise on a few lifestyle changes like:
Stretching
They will teach you exercises you can perform to reduce the chance of the condition developing again. Stretching will help your elbow muscles grow stronger in time.
Squeeze And Release
A squeeze and release exercise helps strengthen your wrists and elbows. You will need a tennis ball or other type of ball for this exercise.
For more on whether you should see a chiropractor for tennis elbow, visit Ellis Chiropractic at our office in Marlow, Oklahoma. Call (580) 721-7007 to book an appointment today.