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For an Effective Treatment for Tennis Elbow, Look No Further than Physical Therapy

Written By PTConcepts on August 27, 2018

Tennis elbow is reserved solely for those who are over enthusiastic with their racquets, right?

Wrong. 

Only 5% of cases are related to playing tennis. 

So while those who play sports such as squash and tennis are at a high risk of developing this condition, the majority of people will get it from other types of movements that involve gripping and twisting frequently – e.g. simple things such as using a screwdriver. 

Sometimes, it will ease on its own, with ice packs, rest, and over-the-counter painkillers working. But if not, physical therapy is often the go-to treatment recommended by many health care professionals.  

What is Tennis Elbow?

To give it its medical name, lateral epicondylitis is a common injury where the pain is often located on the outer of the arm. This is where your forearm and elbow meet. 

It’s associated with the tendons and muscles in your forearm (your tendons connect your muscles and bones). 

Thus, when you’re constantly using your arm to carry out repetitive movements, the tendons around the elbow may start to develop small tears. These tears can put stress on your arm and may cause inflammation, making it difficult for you to grip and lift things. 

If untreated, it may become a chronic condition. 

How Can Physical Therapy Help? 

The aim of physical therapy is to boost the flexibility and strength of the muscles in your forearm so tennis elbow becomes a thing of the past. This involves using manual adjustments that help improve the mobility of the area while encouraging your body to heal itself.

How does this work? 

Physical therapy can help improve blood flow to the tendons in this area because they don’t usually get the same level of oxygen and blood as the muscles. 

Should your chiropractor believe that the pain has been caused by a certain movement you’re doing on a regular basis or by tennis or squash, they may be able to advise how you can change your technique to reduce the risk of further elbow troubles.

Furthermore, to complement your physical therapy treatment program, your physical therapist may also recommended exercises you can do at home. Continuing to do these even after your treatment has finished will ensure your elbow and adjoining muscles are strong, staving off the risk of injuries in the future. 

To hear how physical therapy could help you, contact our friendly team today.


Posted In: Physical Therapy Tennis Elbow Treatment