Four Treatment Methods for Tennis Elbow

Educational video describing the difference between the conditions know as tennis elbow and golfer's elbow.

Once your medical professional has diagnosed your condition, they will be able to recommend the most effective treatment for your tennis elbow or golfer's elbow injury. There are a variety of options available depending on the severity of your injury.

During your recovery, you will probably have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort in your elbow area until your pain and inflammation settle. Scar tissue will often develop as a result of a tennis elbow or golfer's elbow injury once acute inflammation begins to decrease.

As your damaged arm tissues heal this dead, fibrotic tissue will develop instead of forming brand new healthy tissue. This tissue adheres to your muscle fibers, tendons, ligaments, fascia, nerves, and joints causing pain and preventing them from moving properly (this limits your range of motion, flexibility and strength).

Often you will notice a great improvement within 6 to 12 weeks; however it can take months to return to normal. The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results.

If you start using your arm before it has a chance to heal properly (even though it may feel better), you can end up doing a lot more damage than good!

Anterior View: The front view (Anterior View) of the image to the right is showing the muscle and tendon layers of the right arm from the front side. The medial epicondyle area (source of Golfer's Elbow pain) are on the "inside" of the elbows (closest to the torso) whereas the lateral epicondyle is located on the outside of the elbows (away from the torso).

Posterior View: The back view (Posterior View) of the image to the right is showing the muscle and tendon layers of the right arm from the back side. The lateral epicondyle area (the troublesome spot for Tennis Elbow) is best shown from this view.

1 Conservative Epicondylitis Treatment

Your initial treatment should involve relieving any pain and stress on your elbow, decreasing any swelling, and correcting any bio-mechanical dysfunction. Then you can focus on restoring strength and mobility to your injured elbow. It is very important to follow any instructions you receive from your physician.

To decrease inflammation and relieve pain for a chronic or diagnosed tennis elbow injury, adhere to the RCCE philosophy within the first 48 hours.

2 Pain and Anti-Inflammatory Medication

NSAIDs: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

NSAIDs can be used if required to help manage your pain. However, these aren't recommended for long term use, as they can cause gastrointestinal difficulties.

Some health professionals also recommend natural supplements such as Glucosamine, MSM or Hyaluronic Acid to help strengthen the injured tissue.

3 Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy

Help Your Body Heal Itself

You can help your body repair itself by speeding its natural healing process with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy.

During normal activities, the movement promotes blood flow through our body. Our body responds to the movement by sending oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to the muscles, joints, tendons and other soft tissue in the body.

When at rest, the blood flow to your tendons is greatly reduced. Unfortunately, when your tendon is injured it requires rest but it also needs the blood flow to promote the healing process. Since you can't work your tendon without danger of further injury, you need to stimulate the blood flow another way.

4 Physical Therapy

Restoring Your Elbow's Flexibility and Strength

Physical Therapy is a beneficial way to help decrease pain in the soft tissue, restore atrophied muscles and improve elbow, forearm and wrist strength and mobility. The type of physical therapy and the duration will be dependent on the extent of your injury.

Once your pain starts to diminish, a physiotherapist will also set up an individualized arm and shoulder strengthening and stretching exercise program for you to perform at home or in the gym.

This will be based on your needs and abilities, and will help you return to performing your normal routines.

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source：DisuppoSport，a Sport Protection Expert.