If you’ve ever experienced that sharp, nagging pain on the outside of your elbow, you know how debilitating tennis elbow can be. As a bodywork therapist, I’ve seen countless clients struggle with this condition, and I’m here to share some insights that can help you manage and heal your tennis elbow effectively.
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a common condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow. Despite its name, you don’t have to play tennis to develop this painful overuse injury. It affects the tendons responsible for extending the wrist and fingers.
The tiny tears that develop in these overworked tendons lead to pain and inflammation around the outer elbow. The discomfort can also radiate down or up the arm, making the shoulder and neck stiff. It also makes gripping or twisting motions difficult. Tennis elbow is a type of tendinitis caused by repetitive strain on the forearm tendons.
The symptoms of tennis elbow can gradually worsen over time. Imagine trying to grip something but feeling a sharp, stabbing pain in your elbow – that’s a common experience. The pain often starts as a mild ache and can progress to a burning sensation that radiates down your forearm. Everyday tasks like shaking hands, turning a doorknob, or holding a coffee cup can become incredibly painful and challenging.
Here are the common symptoms you might experience:
Tennis elbow is usually caused by repetitive motion and overuse. This can happen from activities such as:
Risk factors include:
To diagnose tennis elbow, your doctor will discuss your symptoms and activities and perform a physical exam. This involves pressing on the affected area and moving your arm in various ways. In some cases, imaging tests like X-rays or MRI may be needed to rule out other conditions.
The duration can vary widely:
Many conventional treatments for tennis elbow, such as rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medications, and corticosteroid injections, focus on alleviating symptoms temporarily rather than addressing the root cause of the pain. Physical therapy can be beneficial, but it often requires a long-term commitment to see significant improvement.
As a bodyworker, I believe in a holistic approach that targets the source of the problem. While conventional methods can provide short-term relief, bodywork therapy offers a more comprehensive solution by addressing muscle tension, improving blood flow, and enhancing overall arm function.
Bodywork therapy can be a game-changer for tennis elbow. It eases pain and improves arm function by targeting affected muscles, tendons, and soft tissues.
Special techniques relieve tension in overworked areas, kickstarting your body’s natural healing process. The result? Your arm and wrist move more freely, so you can get back to your daily life with less pain holding you back.
Bodywork therapy provides several advantages for those suffering from tennis elbow:
Different massage techniques can be particularly beneficial for tennis elbow:
Self-massage can be a great way to manage symptoms between professional sessions. Here are some techniques:
Mild cases of tennis elbow may improve within a few weeks with proper care, while severe cases can take several months to a year to fully heal. Bodywork therapy sessions are typically recommended 1-2 times per week in the initial stages, with the frequency decreasing as symptoms improve.
Preventing tennis elbow is all about reducing strain and improving your technique:
Jenny was referred to Bodywork Masters through a friend and current client. She’d been dealing with pain and tenderness in her forearm, elbow, and wrist for weeks, but it was a sudden spike in pain that led her to seek an urgent appointment.
Upon assessment, I found that Jenny was experiencing symptoms of Tennis Elbow, which was aggravated by sleeping on her injured arm the night before.
It was clear that the pain she felt in her forearm, elbow, and wrist was actually referred pain from her outer elbow. This shows why it’s important to dig deep to find the cause, as getting the right diagnosis is crucial for planning the best treatment.
To relieve Jenny’s pain, I used a mix of bodywork techniques: myofascial release, gua-sha, and deep tissue massage. These methods target the tension in her tendons and kickstart the healing process.
After her session, Jenny felt significantly less pain. She returned the next week for more bodywork on the tight tendons in her arm, showing real progress in her recovery.
Jenny’s experience underscores how crucial it is to diagnose accurately and tailor treatments. Personalized care made a big difference in easing her pain and improving her well-being.
Tennis elbow can be a real pain, but it doesn’t have to control your life. Bodywork therapy offers a powerful, non-invasive way to manage and heal your symptoms. With regular bodywork sessions, self-massage, and targeted exercises, many people find relief and return to their normal activities.
If you’re struggling with tennis elbow, don’t wait any longer. Contact Bodywork Masters to schedule an appointment and get on the path to healing. Our team of expert therapists will work with you to create a customized treatment plan using proven bodywork techniques to address your pain and prevent future issues. Don’t let tennis elbow hold you back – get started on your journey to a pain-free life today.
