Tennis Elbow not just for Racquet Sports Anymore
Do you have pain in your arm, even when you don’t go to the gym? Does your elbow hurt
even if you don’t play tennis? Even when you rest do these pains stay with you?
This condition is common in people who play racquet sports and you may even be living a lifestyle
that worsens this condition, even if you don’t play these sports. Many people think that tennis
elbow is just for those who play tennis. Not so. Since more people are doing desk jobs, especially
computer work, or any task that requires repetitive strain; tiny tears in your tendon can be
created, causing pain, are more common than you might think.
Let’s look at the dynamics of how this condition occurs. Tennis elbow, referred to medically as
lateral epicondylitis, is the result of minor tears in your tendon on the lateral side of your
arm. If these tendons are continuously used, like in many office jobs and doing other household
tasks, inflammation results and your elbow becomes sore and painful.
A common treatment is rest and anti-inflammatory medication, but is this enough? To put this in
everyday terms, when a muscle or tendon tears in your body, do you feel it? Most of the time, the
painful answer is, “Yes!” When this said muscle or tendon heals, is it the same? Not usually, if
ever. The reason being is that scar tissue forms which isn’t as pliable as the muscle or tendon
before the rupture. Scar tissue does just that, it scars over, or fuses the torn ligaments or
tendons.
This process is the body’s way of patching together the tear. It’s amazing it does so. It’s also
amazing when we give the body what it needs to move the way it did before the accident. This is
where chiropractic works non-surgically to ensure the body’s healing process.
What does the body need? When inflammation and tears occur, the body repair itself best with
anti-inflammatory and good biomechanical movement. Chiropractors ensure healing biomechanics. When
inflammation occurs and scar tissue develops muscles and bones can be pulled out of alignment
which also causes pain. If an individual body part just worked in isolation that might be Ok. But
our bodies work in a system where one part affects the other. Inflammation and subluxation can
affect your entire body, setting off a chain of unrest in your system. Do you want limited
movement or do you want to heal your body? Unlike a worn out pair of clothes, we can’t easily
replace our body parts that hurt or rupture.
Don’t you want to take care of and strengthen your body so it feels good?
Reducing the inflammation can help you feel good. Chiropractic can help heal tennis elbow to where
your body heals naturally. When your body truly heals, then it can move and feel the way you want
it to. Elbow pain can be a minor irritation. Don’t wait until it may develop into a major problem
before you seek treatment.
The reason why chiropractors are skilled in getting your body back to feeling great is because
they are trained in aligning your biomechanics. Your skeletal structure is the framework for your
entire body. A good way to think about your skeleton is that it’s likened to the foundation of
your house, including the 2x4’s in the walls. Imagine if your house structure was sliding to one
side. What would eventually happen? It could weaken your entire house.
The same analogy applies to your body. When a part of the structure is weak, it could eventually
weaken your body as a whole.
Doesn’t it seem right that your house should stand upright? The same with your body and its
structure. When bodily processes are working in order, you feel good. Biomechanically your
chiropractor can align your body. Aligned biomechanics feels good to your body.
Elbow pain may hurt. Chiropractic can bring relief, for today and for a stronger you, tomorrow.
Get back to your life Chiropractic gets you there.
References
A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. (8/11/2012). Tennis elbow: Epitrochlear bursitis; Lateral epicondylitis; Epicondylitis - lateral. Pub Med Health. Retrieved January 6, 2013 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001485/
University of California San Francisco Financial District Medial Center. (2002-2013). Tennis Elbow. Ucsfhealth.org. Retrieved January 6, 2013 from http://www.ucsfhealth.org
The first step to relieve from tennis elbow pain is to schedule a free consultation in our office to discuss the specifics of your case.
