What is Tennis Elbow?
Written by Osteopath Georgia Hutchinson
Understanding Tennis Elbow: Causes, Symptoms, and Osteopathic Treatments
Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow. Despite its name, you don't have to be a tennis player to suffer from it. This condition is often the result of repetitive motion and overuse (also referred to as RSI), affecting people in various occupations and activities.
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow occurs when the tendons in your elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. This leads to inflammation and microtears in the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle, a bony bump on the outside of your elbow.
Causes of Tennis Elbow
Poor Sports Technique: Playing sports such as tennis, golf, ping pong or archery, with incorrect ergonomics can result in strain
Repetitive Motions: Activities that involve repeated gripping, twisting, or lifting, such as playing musical instruments, painting, or using hand tools.
Occupational Hazards: Jobs that require frequent use of the forearm muscles, like carpentry, plumbing, or butchery.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
The primary symptom of tennis elbow is pain and tenderness around the outside of the elbow. This pain can radiate into the forearm and wrist, making it difficult to perform tasks like:
Shaking hands or gripping an object.
Turning a doorknob.
Holding a coffee cup.
The pain typically worsens with repetitive use of the forearm muscles.
Osteopathic Approach to Treating Tennis Elbow
Osteopathy offers a holistic approach to managing and treating tennis elbow. Osteopaths focus on improving the body's structure and function, aiming to alleviate pain and promote healing.
1. Diagnosis
An osteopath will start with a thorough assessment to understand the extent of your condition. This includes discussing your symptoms, medical history, and any activities that may have contributed to the pain. They may also perform physical examinations to pinpoint the source of pain and check for other possible issues.
2. Manual Therapy
Osteopathic treatment for tennis elbow often involves manual therapy techniques, such as:
Soft Tissue Manipulation: Gentle massage and stretching of the muscles and tendons around the elbow to reduce tension and improve blood flow.
Joint Mobilization: Techniques to improve joint movement and reduce stiffness.
Myofascial Release: This involves applying gentle sustained pressure to the connective tissues to alleviate pain and restore motion.
Dry Needling: This technique involves insertion of fine needles into specific trigger points within muscles, tendons and ligaments. To read more about Dry Needling, check out our blog post here.
3. Exercise and Rehabilitation
Osteopaths may prescribe specific exercises to strengthen the forearm muscles and improve flexibility. These exercises help to reduce the strain on the tendons and prevent recurrence. Common exercises include:
Stretches: To improve flexibility in the wrist and forearm muscles.
Eccentric Exercises: These involve slowly lowering the wrist after lifting it, which can help strengthen the affected tissues.
Bracing or Taping for support
4. Ergonomic Advice
An osteopath may provide advice on modifying activities and workstations to reduce strain on the elbow. This might involve:
Adjusting the grip size on tools or sports equipment.
Ensuring proper posture and technique during activities.
Using supportive gear like braces or straps to alleviate stress on the tendons.
Tennis elbow can be a painful and debilitating condition, but with proper care and treatment, recovery is achievable. Osteopathy provides a comprehensive approach to managing tennis elbow, addressing both the symptoms and underlying causes. If you suspect you have tennis elbow or are experiencing persistent elbow pain, consider consulting with an osteopath to explore your treatment options and start your journey toward recovery.
If you need support with Tennis Elbow, you can book an appointment with Georgia below:
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