TENNIS ELBOW
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As a sports chiropractor, Dr. Jeff Harris at Harris Chiropractic in Middleton frequently treats tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis. It is actually the inflammation of the tendons that insert at the lateral elbow and is typically an "overuse" injury. The tendons that insert at the lateral elbow actually have very little to do with the elbow, in fact, the purpose of these tendons and the surrounding muscles are to extend the wrist and fingers.
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Most people are a bit surprised when they get diagnosed with tennis elbow and don’t play tennis. The name can be misleading as the origin of the inflammation is caused by any activity that involves using your hands and wrists repetitively.
Common Causes of Tennis Elbow
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Activities that require repetitive gripping like using a hammer or screw driver
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Computer work that involves repetitively extending a finger to click a mouse
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Gardening
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Weightlifting
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Construction Work
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Overhead Throwing Sports
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Painting a deck on a sunny afternoon
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Rock climbing
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CrossFit
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These activities rely on the strength of the wrist extensor muscles and the tensile strength of the tendon. When the wrist extensors fatigue, strain and stress is placed on the origin of the tendon at the lateral epicondyle and a tendinitis can ensure. If left untreated, lateral epicondylitis can turn to lateral epicondylosis, a degenerative condition where scar tissue is accumulated in the tendon. This condition tends to be more painful than tennis elbow and takes longer to reach full resolution with appropriate treatment.
Treatment Options for Tennis Elbow
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Transverse Friction Massage
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Therapeutic Ultrasound
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Dry Needling Therapy and Acupuncture
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Taping – Kinesio Tape
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Myofascial Release (MFR)
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If you are suffering from tennis elbow and would like to make an appointment at our clinic in Middleton, or to discuss your condition with our sports chiropractor, please contact us or call 208-424-5100 today.
