Tennis Elbow Symptoms and Natural Pain Relief

Tennis elbow is a painful condition that can affect tennis players, athletes as well as anyone that uses their arms frequently or in a repetitive fashion. This condition causes pain, inflammation, swelling, stiffness and difficulty moving the arm. The specific area affected is the outside region of the elbow with pain that can travel up or down the arm. The medical terminology used for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis and the most common muscle affected is the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB). When the ECRB experiences stress, injury, or enough repetitive strain, small micro tears develop in the tendon or muscle that can eventually progress to pain and symptoms.

The most common age group affected by tennis elbow are those between 30 to 50 years old. In some cases the condition can take months to develop any noticeable symptoms. Athletes and workers that put repetitive strain into the wrist and elbow are most likely to develop tennis elbow. When pain and symptoms in the elbow are present then rest, ice, stretching and exercising can help decrease pain and inflammation.

The first step towards resting the elbow means decreasing the overall movement and strain put into the elbow. Limiting both wrist and elbow strain and movement can allow the tendons and muscles time to heal.

Applying a cold pack to the elbow and forearm for 15-20 minutes 3-4 times per day can help reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. This can especially be helpful if done consistently over a period of 4-5 days.

Using a brace on the elbow can help reduce strain on the ECRB muscle and give relief. This can also be helpful to remember to rest the elbow and avoid repetitive movements that aggravate the pain.

In cases that are mild or moderate, exercises and stretches can be helpful to decrease pain, increase range of motion, and increase muscle strength. Start with simple stretches such as:

Wrist flexor stretch: place arm straight out in front of you with palm facing up. Lightly push down on hand with opposite hand until a stretch is felt in the elbow and forearm, hold for 20 seconds. Repeat 2 times. Do daily.

Wrist extensor stretch: place arm straight out in front of you with palm facing down. Lightly push down on hand with opposite hand until a stretch is felt in the elbow and forearm, hold for 20 seconds. Repeat 2 times. Do daily.

Eccentric wrist extension: place your forearm down on a table with your wrist hanging off the edge, palm down. Hold a light weight, only 5 lbs or less, in your hand. Drop and lift your wrist slowly. Do 2 sets of 10 repetitions 3-4 times per week.

Eccentric wrist flexion: place your forearm down on a table with your wrist hanging off the edge, palm up. Hold a light weight, only 5 lbs or less, in your hand. Drop and lift your wrist slowly. Do 2 sets of 10 repetitions 3-4 times per week.

Use your diet to help decrease inflammation. Consuming specific foods can either help or hurt your overall pain and recovery. Foods that can help decrease inflammation and help the healing process include: vegetables including green leafy vegetables, wild caught fish, raw dairy, organic cage free eggs and organic grass fed beef. Other great anti-inflammatory foods include celery, beets, broccoli, blueberries, pineapple and bone broth. Foods to avoid include processed foods, foods with added sugar, high sodium foods, foods high in saturated and refined fats, alcohol and processed grains.

At Crest Chiropractic in Orem, treatment options for tennis elbow include chiropractic adjustments to the elbow and wrist, shockwave therapy, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization and kinesiology taping.

A chiropractic evaluation can determine if the elbow or wrist joints have misalignments or restrictions in range of motion. Gentle chiropractic elbow and wrist adjustments can improve range of motion and alignment to decrease pain and improve range of motion.

Shockwave therapy is a treatment that uses high energy sound waves to stimulate healing and regeneration in the tendon and muscle. These sound waves stimulate blood flow, reduce inflammation, break down scar tissue and promote healing of the damaged tendons. Shockwave has gained popularity due to its success in treating musculoskeletal issues including tennis elbow. This therapy is applied by the practitioner by guiding a applicator over the injured area for a short period of time. Treatment is comfortable and an improvement in pain is often noticed as quickly as after the first session.

Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization can be effective in decreasing pain and inflammation. This technique uses special tools to scrap along the injured tendon and muscle to increase blood flow, increase mobility, and decrease inflammation.

Kinesiology tape can be used to provide support, improve range of motion and give pain relief. Kinesiology tape has gained in popularity due to its comfort and range of motion benefits.

If you're an athlete or active adult dealing with tennis elbow also known as lateral epicondylitis our chiropractic care in Orem can provide natural, lasting relief. Surgery for tennis elbow is usually not necessary when non surgical treatment options are utilized. Our team at Crest Chiropractic is trained in sports injury management, and we’re proud to support the communities of Orem, Lindon, Vineyard, Pleasant Grove, Alpine, Cedar Hills or Utah County with advanced non-surgical treatments.

To get started call our office today at 801-701-8100 or schedule online: click here