Elbow tendonitis, also called lateral epicondylitis, is an inflammation of the connective tissue that fastens the muscles in the forearm to the elbow. The tendons attach to the outside edge of the upper arm bone, where it meets the elbow. This type of elbow pain is also called tennis elbow. Learning how to treat elbow tendonitis is a good thing to know before the tendonitis pain occurs.
Tendonitis is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles, playing a lot of tennis with its repetitive forearm motion is only one way of irritating these tendons. Plumbers, carpenters, and painters commonly develop tennis elbow as they engage in repetitive motions as well. Knowing how to treat elbow tendonitis is useful for different kinds of people who develop this elbow pain.
Other athletes also develop elbow tendonitis, such as golfers and baseball players. The typical age for developing tendonitis is 30 to 50 years, but this varies widely. Every year, 1% to 3% of the population gets elbow tendonitis.
Symptoms of elbow tendonitis
If you are suffering from elbow tendonitis, you will likely have some or all of the following symptoms:
- Pain and tenderness in your elbow, often centered on where the tendons of the forearm attach to the elbow.
- A burning sensation in the area of pain. Stiffness in the elbow, often worse in the morning or at night time.
- Pain when using your hand or arm, impacting your ability to grip or lift items.
- Reduced range of motion in the affected arm.
- Tingling in the hand or arm.
Even though the offending issue may be in the elbow, the pain may actually be worse when you are using your hands. Since your muscles, tendons, and nerves run through your arm, the pain can extend into your arm, wrist, and hand. It can be difficult to shake hands, grip everyday objects or lift things.
Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care can be a great way to manage and relieve swelling and discomfort caused by elbow tendonitis. Routine chiropractic care provides patients with a safe, non-invasive, non-addictive alternative to prescription or over-the-counter medications. Chiropractic adjustments reduce joint restrictions or misalignments in the spine and other joints in the body in an effort to reduce inflammation and improve function of both the affected joint and nervous system. Through these chiropractic adjustments, your body has the ability to better manage symptoms caused by the elbow tendonitis.
Chiropractic care and chiropractic adjustments can provide patients with elbow tendonitis with reduced pain and discomfort, decreased inflammation, Improved range of motion and flexibility and increased muscle tone and strength. Rest is key for reducing elbow tendonitis pain, especially in the short-term. For a long-term solution, the tendon that is inflamed must be dealt with properly. Simply taking an anti-inflammatory or bracing the area is not going to get to the root of the problem, which is the nerves that influence the lateral epicondyle tendon.
A middle-aged woman began chiropractic care due to tennis elbow pain and limited mobility caused by repetitive motions at work. Due to consistent chiropractic adjustments, she experienced full resolution of pain and restored mobility. Because of the whole-body improvements that chiropractic brings about, it’s a great way to find relief from the pain of tennis elbow.