Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a musculoskeletal condition causing pain and tenderness on the outer part of the elbow. While common among tennis players, it can affect anyone who repeatedly performs hand and arm movements, leading to tissue overuse and small tears.
Chiropractic care offers a non-invasive approach to this issue that can simplify the recovery process. Discover how chiropractic care can provide effective and long-lasting relief for tennis elbow, helping you regain comfort and mobility.
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow occurs when inflammation and irritation impact the outside of the elbow. People who experience tennis elbow often state that the symptoms develop gradually, the pain lasting from weeks to even months.
Tennis elbow symptoms vary per person, but the most common symptom is pain and tenderness on the outer part of the elbow that radiates down to the forearm. In some cases, the elbow itself may look swollen and larger than usual.
The arm may feel stiff and sore when extended, and grip strength weakens. This makes simple tasks such as gripping objects or turning a doorknob become difficult as bending or twisting the arm or hand worsens the pain.
Patients with tennis elbow often rely on short-term treatments to provide immediate pain relief by taking pain medications, applying a cold compress to the affected area, or wrapping a compression bandage around the elbow.
However, without long-term treatment, tennis elbow can lead to chronic discomfort and limited mobility, affecting one’s day-to-day routine. That’s why it’s important to seek proper treatment for addressing the condition, as well as learning the right ways to prevent it.
Chiropractic Care as Proper Tennis Elbow Treatment
Chiropractic care takes a holistic and nontraditional approach to healing, focusing on the relationship between the spine and the body.
It emphasizes the body’s ability to heal itself through non-invasive techniques like spinal adjustments, massage therapy, and rehabilitative exercises. Chiropractic care is recommended for treating tennis elbow as it offers both short-term relief and long-term recovery benefits.
How is Tennis Elbow Treated Using Chiropractic Care?
Planning to see a chiropractor for your tennis elbow? Be prepared for multiple sessions to fully benefit from chiropractic care and accelerate your recovery. In your first session, the chiropractor will conduct a thorough physical exam, review your medical history, and discuss your symptoms to develop a personalized treatment plan. An x-ray may be required in some cases.
After pinpointing the source of your pain, the chiropractor will create a recovery program based on their diagnosis. Subsequent sessions will involve various chiropractic techniques to alleviate your pain. A key component is spinal manipulation, where the chiropractor applies targeted, gentle force to correct misalignments and adjust your elbow, promoting natural healing.
As treatment progresses, additional methods like massage therapy and physical therapy may be incorporated into your program. You may also receive exercise and stretching guides to follow at home. Since recovery is a long-term process, your chiropractor will monitor your progress and make adjustments to your treatment plan until you fully recover.
Preventing Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow can be prevented by avoiding overuse of your arms and elbows, though this may be challenging for those engaged in sports and other physical activities involving strenuous arm movements.
However, adopting these habits and practices can help prevent tennis elbow:
- Wear Protective Equipment: When participating in sports or physical activities, use elbow pads to provide cushioning and reduce impact on your elbows.
- Listen to Your Body: If you feel pain and tenderness on the outer part of your elbow, stop the activity immediately. Continuing to move while in pain can worsen the condition.
- Allow for Rest and Recovery: Give your body time to rest and recover after using your arms. Know the limits of your joints and muscles.
- Warm Up and Stretch: Before physical activities, stretch and warm up your arms to avoid sudden shock to the joints and muscles.
- Cool Down: After physical activities, do cool-down stretches to gradually relax your muscles and joints.
- Maintain Flexibility and Strength: Even if you do not participate in sports, perform stretching exercises for your arms at home to maintain flexibility and strength over time.
Prioritizing Elbow Strength and Flexibility
Every muscle and joint is crucial to your body’s overall health, making it important to address any issues with your musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic care offers a holistic and gentle approach to ensuring the safety and health of your muscles and joints.
Chiropractors seek to treat and prevent tennis elbow through chiropractic treatment. By incorporating musculoskeletal adjustments, stretching, and exercise, patients with tennis elbow can gradually regain strength and flexibility without the need for medication or surgery.
Want to learn more about how chiropractic care can treat and prevent tennis elbow? LifeClinic provides comprehensive information on chiropractic care and offers services to aid in your recovery. Live a life without pain by booking an appointment with LifeClinic today!
