Tennis Elbow

Lateral Epicondylitis | Elbow Pain | Outer Elbow Pain

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition caused by overuse. It’s not just limited to tennis or other racket sports – certain other activities and sports can also lead to this problem.

Tennis elbow involves the degeneration (wear and tear) or in some cases, small tears in the tendon attached to the outer part of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons become damaged from repetitive motion, leading to pain and soreness on the outer part of the elbow.

Causes of Tennis Elbow

Chronic overuse: Long periods of activities like typing on a computer, heavy lifting, cooking, etc.
Repetitive movements: Sports like tennis that involve repetitive swinging motions, putting excessive stress on the forearm tendons.
Muscle weakness: Weak forearm muscles that cannot withstand the repeated strain.
Cervical Nerve Compression: Cervical C5-C7 being compressed

Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

Severe pain on the outer elbow: This is the most common symptom. The pain usually worsens with activity and improves with rest.
Weakened grip strength: Due to the pain, patients cannot grip objects tightly.
Limited mobility: There is pain when extending or bending the arm.
Tenderness when touching the outer elbow

Physiotherapy for Tennis Elbow

The main treatment for acute tennis elbow is to relax the biceps and forearm extensor muscles; for chronic tennis elbow, the underlying causes like neck nerve compression, rounded shoulders, or tight finger fascia need to be addressed, in addition to the acute factors. Common physical therapy methods include:

TCM Treatment for Tennis Elbow

From a Chinese medicine perspective, tennis elbow can be classified as “elbow numb“. Chinese medicine believes it is caused by stagnation of qi and blood in the meridians. Common TCM treatments include:

Internal medicine:
Formulas to nourish the liver and kidneys, and promote blood circulation and stasis removal, such as Si Wu Tang, Niu Xi Tang, etc. This helps to address the root cause.
Acupuncture:
Needling specific points on the elbow and forearm to unblock the meridians and regulate qi and blood.
Orthopedic Reduction: Massaging the elbow and surrounding muscle tissues to unblock the meridians and relieve pain.

FAQ

How can I self-manage tennis elbow?

Therapists suggest using massage balls, massage guns, or manually massaging the most tense spots in the biceps and forearm extensor muscles for 2-3 minutes.

Then do stretching exercises, 3 sets of 15 seconds per muscle group, to help relieve tennis elbow pain.

When do I need to wear an elbow brace?

Elbow braces are generally not recommended for long-term use, as they can further weaken the forearm muscles by excessive reliance. Exceptions include:

When there is severe pain with simple activities
After traumatic elbow injury
When engaging in high-intensity activities
When specifically recommended by a doctor

How can I prevent recurrence of tennis elbow?

Therapists suggest:

Take breaks and rest adequately during work or sports
Distribute tasks evenly between both hands when cooking or doing chores
Consistently do massage and stretching exercises
Strengthen the forearm muscles using dumbbells or resistance bands

MANA Core Values

Integration of Eastern and Western Medicine, Multidimensional Therapy
Reshaping Structural Integrity to Achieve Inner and Outer Balance
Guiding Body Perception to Think & Foster a Healthy Lifestyle
Conducted by Registered TCM Practitioners and Physiotherapists for Examination and Treatment

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