Have you got pain in your elbow that builds up over your day at work? Does it ache and throb, making it hard to concentrate or complete tasks?
You might be suffering from Tennis Elbow!
Lateral Epicondylitis, also referred to as Tennis Elbow, is the most common reason for pain around the elbow. This condition got its name because up to 40% of tennis players suffer from it. But around 3% of the general population have the same issue.
The common symptoms for tennis elbow include;
- Pain and tenderness around the bony area of the outer elbow that can also spread down into the forearm
- Pain and weakness in wrist activities such as gripping, writing, lifting and twisting
- Swelling of the elbow
What is Tennis Elbow?
In your forearm there are a total of 20 muscles! These are split into two groups, the extensors of the wrist and the flexors of the wrist.
Many of these muscles have a common attachment point via a large tendon into either the medial epicondyle (flexor muscles) or lateral epicondyle (extensor muscles) of the elbow.
Tennis elbow is inflammation and damage of the tendons that attach the extensor muscles of the forearm to the bone of the outer elbow.
These muscles are very important for the activities of the wrist and hand which makes it easy to overload the tendons that have to support them.
What Causes Tennis Elbow?
Tennis Elbow is an overuse condition where the tendons of the outer elbow are overloaded. This typically occurs due to repetitive movement of the wrist and arm placing strain on the tendons.
It is common in professions that involve repeated actions, such as;
- Throwing and racquet sports (e.g., tennis, squash, baseball, cricket)
- Trades using screwdrivers and power tools (e.g., electrician, carpenter, plumber, butcher)
- Office works using a mouse and keyboard
- Musicians
- Factory workers
- Cleaners
- Gardeners
There are several factors that can place you at an increased risk of developing Tennis elbow:
- Repetitive movements
- Training errors
- Muscle tightness
- Ageing
- Poor blood flow
- Strength deficits or muscle imbalance
How Long Does It Last?
Because tennis elbow is an overuse condition, the time that you can be in pain varies. Your recovery from the condition depends on the amount of pain you are in, what activities aggravate your pain and how long you have had the pain for.
Factors that will improve your recovery time include;
- Seeking early help and starting the process before the damage increases
- Being able to adjust the causative factor (e.g., work) to reduce its impact on the tendon
- Taking an active approach to managing the condition by doing the prescribed stretches and strengthening
Osteopathic management Tennis Elbow
At Bodywell Healthcare, our osteopaths will take a wholistic approach to treating your Tennis Elbow. Assessment will be focused around your wrist, elbow and shoulder joints to explore movement patterns, muscle strength, muscle tightness, and involvement of joint structures to help us gather the information we need to make an accurate diagnosis.
We will also look at the causative factor that led to your pain and try to reduce its impact on your body. This will help settle down your pain and prevent future flair ups.
When it comes to Tennis Elbow, an active management is often best. This includes the hands-on treatment from our osteopaths, incorporated with upper limb strengthening and stretching at home.
Our treatment will typically focus on improving joint mobility, reducing muscle tension, and improving posture and alignment. While the at home component will provide the strength and tolerance to activity that you require to reach your goals and go about your daily life.
Where do I go from here?
Do you have any questions about whether osteopathic treatment might be right for you? You can call us on 9717 1200 to speak with one of our friendly team members.
Alternatively, if you would like to book an appointment with one of our osteopaths you can call the clinic, or you can book online here: https://www.bodywellhealthcare.com.au/book-online/