Tennis Elbow Pain
By the term
itself you would think this is a condition that affects only Tennis players but
it can also affect anybody male or female.
The condition affects the outside of the elbow.
Many a person
who has been diagnosed with Tennis Elbow were surprised because they never
played Tennis. It is called Tennis Elbow because it is a very common condition
among Tennis players. The condition is also called Repetitive Strain Injury
(RSI) (Repetitive means overused) or Lateral Epicondylitis. Lateral means the
outside, epi means upon, condyle refers to that part of the bone, & aitis. means inflammation.
Every muscle has
an origin & an insertion. The origin
is on the bone itself, the insertion is via a tendon that crosses the joint
& joins into the other bone. When
the muscle contracts (shortens), the insertion moves towards the origin.
Example of the
Elbow:
The muscles
collectively called the wrist extensor muscles originate at the elbow &
cross the wrist via tendons on the dorsal aspect (the outside) & extends
the wrist. This movement is known as the
backhand stroke whilst playing Tennis.
When these
muscles tire, we are inclined to continue playing on or working on & minor
micro tears occur exactly at the point where the muscle originates at the
elbow. The body s cells lay down new
tissue growth to try & repair the damage called scar tissue but we continue
to use the injured muscle whilst it is trying to repair itself (heal) &
cause further tears therefore it never gets time to heal properly &
continual repetitive use causes the muscle to inflame at the bone or origin
known as Lateral Epicondylitis or Tennis Elbow.
The symptoms can
be varied but weakness at the elbow e.g lifting a kettle or using the backhand
movement is very common therefore loss of power on that movement. Painters & Plasterers along with Tennis
players suffer frequently with Tennis Elbow.
It was very common one time for Electricians to suffer this condition
due to the tightening of screws with screwdrivers on a daily basis but not as
common now due to the use of battery or electrically operated
screwdrivers. Other symptoms are
radiating pain that spreads into the forearm with pain & tenderness at the
elbow, worse on activity like lifting & grasping objects
The Treatment
A detailed case
history is taken along with various physical tests to determine the diagnosis
and cause of the condition
The treatment at
my Clinic is first to encourage you to rest from the activity that causes the
pain.
Ultrasound:
In the acute
(early) stage we treat using ultrasound which has many benefits. It works via ultrasound waves that penetrate
through the tissue. The ultrasound waves
speed up the rate of odema (swelling) therefore it resolves quicker by
increasing the number of blood capillaries around the damaged tissue, this
results in an increase in blood flow and the removal of debri and carrying the
vitamins & minerals to the damaged tissue. It also increases collagen
secretion, that’s the white protein that lays down new tissue growth by up to
30%. The ultrasound waves cause a vibration which helps break down the old scar
tissue that has not healed properly so that new scar tissue can form.
Laser:
The Laser
treatment is used which is excellent in reducing swelling & pain &
improves the condition immediately thus allowing you to reduce the dependency
on medication. Low intensity Laser
Therapy is an advanced system used for treating & accelerating recovery
from a wide range of soft tissue injuries like Tennis Elbow, Achilles
Tendonitis, Shin Splints, Bursitis, Plantar Fascialitis, Rotator Cuff Strains
etc. I will write more on these conditions
later.
Massage of the
muscles is carried out once the inflammation and pain have eased this work
helps to loosen the muscle fibres and break down the scar tissue and drain off
any lactic acid build up.
Electric faradic
stimulation
Faradic pads are
placed on the muscle, this is similar to a tens machine, this method is used to
passively contract and relax the muscle on its own without any active effort by
you, this regains full range of movement
to those muscles.
Rehabilitation:
The final part
of the treatment is preparing you to return to your work or sport, therefore
stretching & strengthening exercises are given so that you regain the full
range of movement and power and to act as a preventative. If the condition was caused through playing
Tennis then we suggest you speak with your Tennis Coach who will check the type
of racket you are using, is the width of
the racked correct for your hand size & the technique you are using &
also the type of ball in use.
The recovery
time for Tennis Elbow can vary depending on how long it was before you sought
treatment but my findings at my Clinic is an average of three to four weeks.
Conclusion:
There is no need
to be suffering from any condition that is treatable & curable &
preventing you from working or playing the sport you love, so call me.
R.I.P Michael and Valerie.
No comments:
Post a Comment