Elbow pain is a condition of the elbow joint that leads to restricted movement of the elbow hindering normal daily movements. The elbow is a ball-and-socket joint, which is the conjunction point for your upper and lower arm. The elbow joint involves three types of bones – the humerus, the radius and ulna. Together these bones form a cup shape around a slippery, gelatinous sac, allowing elbow movement in all the different directions. When this joint is over-strained or injured, it leads to tennis elbow.
Chiropractic treatment has been proven to be safe and effective for elbow pain promoting healing and restoring strength without surgery or medication. In terms of elbow pain, Dr. Ron – chiropractor in Barrie, Ontario, aims not only to relieve the pain itself but to address the structural components of muscles and skeleton.
Two of the most common types of Tennis Elbow Conditions are:
Tennis Elbow or Lateral Epicondylitis
Tennis elbow is a pain or soreness felt on the outside of the elbow. It’s a form of tendonitis caused by damage to the muscles and tendons connecting the forearm muscles to the elbow joint. Damage is usually caused by when the joint is overused and especially if that overuse happens frequently.
Tennis elbow should not be ignored, as it’s unlikely to go away on its own. Although the pain starts on the outer area of the elbow, if tennis elbow is not treated, it can spread from the area of origin down the arm and to the wrist. At this point, even daily tasks can be excruciating for a person.
Treatments for pain relief from tennis elbow include:
- Using ice packs
- Completely resting the elbow
- Performing graded exercise programs
- Cross friction massage
- Manipulating the joint
- Mobilization
Generally, a small pain starts and increases gradually. There are occasions when the pain can occur unexpectedly as well. Any activity involving the elbow joint intensifies the pain while performing even daily tasks such as lifting, brushing teeth, shaking hands, etc.
Posterior Tennis Elbow or Triceps Tendonitis
Posterior elbow tendonitis or posterior tennis elbow occurs in the back or underside area of the elbow. This form of tennis elbow usually occurs in people involved in activities like throwing, serving, certain weight lifting, punching or motions that lead to rapid extension of the arm.
Treatment for posterior tennis elbow includes:
- Myofascial release (therapy that relaxes contracted muscles to treat immobility in skeletal muscles)
- Cross friction or deep friction massage (this involves gently rubbing the affected area in a motion that is perpendicular to the tendon fibres)
- Using ice packs
- Completely resting the elbow
The complexity of bones, muscles, and ligaments meeting at the elbow joint coupled with its range of motion, can cause parts of this joint to become irritated or inflamed. The causes for irritation and inflammation are most often a combination of overexertion and overuse. Infection, genetics, and degenerative diseases can also play a role in it.
Elbow pain is a common issue but tennis elbow is altogether a different and comparatively serious matter. It occurs more in the dominant arm and is more common in men than women. It occurs more with people of between 30 and 50 years of age. Given the right attention and the right treatment by an experienced chiropractor, it can be treated completely within a few weeks.