Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis, is a common condition that causes pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow (unlike golfer’s elbow, which shows up as pain on the inside of the elbow).
It is typically caused by repetitive wrist and forearm motions, such as those used in tennis and other sports, or through activities like typing or using a computer mouse. While many people turn to pain medication for relief, chiropractic care can offer a natural and effective solution to alleviate tennis elbow pain.
In this post, we discuss:
- How you get tennis elbow
- At-home remedies for pain caused by tennis elbow
- How chiropractic can relieve tennis elbow pain
- And more
Whether you’re a professional athlete or someone who works at a desk all day, chiropractic care can relieve the pain associated with tennis elbow, allowing you to get back to your usual activities easily. Read on to learn more.
How Did I Get Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow, a tendonitis, occurs when the elbow’s tendons become inflamed. In most cases, this happens because of repeated actions taken daily for several hours. This may be due to sports, work, exercise, or chronic movement patterns.
Common reasons for tennis elbow include:
- Repetitive twisting of the wrist
- Repetitive arm motion
- Repetitive bending of the elbow
- Repeatedly using the forearm muscles
- Trauma to the elbow, such as from a fall or sports accident
Those who are at high risk of experiencing tennis elbow include:
- Racquet holders, such as tennis, squash, pickleball, and racquetball players
- Baseball and softball players
- Bowlers
- Fencers
- Golfers
- Auto mechanics
- Butchers and chefs
- Carpenters, cleaners, painters, and plumbers
- Dentists
- Landscapers
- Musicians
Because many of these are occupations or sports, most people can’t stop the activities causing the condition. Finding a better way to manage and support your body is vital to its function; not doing so can cause several symptoms and lead to further injury.
Common symptoms of tennis elbow include:
- Elbow stiffness
- Elbow weakness
- Pain and stiffness when extending the arm
- Pain when twisting or bending the arm
- Pain and weakness when grasping an item
- Burning sensation in the outer elbow
- Radiating discomfort from the elbow into the wrist
- Arm and elbow pain that gets worse at night
- A tender and swollen or inflamed elbow
- Weakened grip when you hold items like a racquet
Natural At-Home Remedies for Tennis Elbow Pain
Below are three chiropractor-approved tips to naturally relieve tennis elbow at home.
Ice and elevate the elbow
Ice and elevation will discourage blood flow to the injury, which is important to healing but can also heighten inflammation and cause more pain. Inflamed tissues cause restrictions and can reduce motion patterns. So, apply ice to the elbow and elevate it (above the heart) to restrict circulation and allow the injury time to recover.
Ice will also numb the area, helping to reduce discomfort.
Discontinue actions that cause elbow pain
This sounds easy, but taking the rest needed to heal is often challenging. Pushing through pain can cause more harm, so listen to your body and stop activities that are making your discomfort worse. Rest is essential to healing, so give your elbow and arm a break from the usual pressures placed on it.
Stretch and massage the elbow
Gentle stretching and soothing massage will help remove tension and pressure on the elbow joint and surrounding tissues, support flexibility and range of motion, and provide relaxation in the body and mind.
Visit Our Orem/Vineyard Chiropractor Clinic for Tennis Elbow Solutions that Work
Most of us use our elbows consistently throughout the day, so when they hurt, we notice. Everything from getting dressed to working on your computer to exercising can be affected, making the right treatment critical to your routine.
Our chiropractic treatments promote the body’s natural healing for safe and fast results. We provide a comprehensive exam detailing where and why you’re experiencing tennis elbow and discuss everything from posture to moving techniques to strengthening exercises to get optimal results.
Common chiropractic services we use to help relieve and heal tennis elbow include:
- Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM)
- Massage therapy
- Functional rehabilitation
- Personal training
- Sports injury rehabilitation
- Dry needling
- Kinesio taping
- And others
We’ll also go over lifestyle changes you can make to prevent tennis elbow from occurring or worsening, such as using proper equipment and incorporating stretching into your routine.
With the right approach, we’re confident we can help your body heal and reduce your risk of re-injury.
You deserve to live pain-free and actively. Schedule your appointment today, and let’s get started.