Tennis Elbow and How Our Chiropractor in Birmingham, MI, Can Help
At some point in their lives, about 50% of tennis players will experience tennis elbow. This overuse sports injury is caused by the repetitive motion of swinging a tennis racket and puts stress on the forearm muscles and tendons.
While the joint pain associated with tennis elbow can range from mild to debilitating, treatments available can help. Keep reading to learn more about tennis elbow and how a sports injury chiropractor in Birmingham, MI, can help relieve your pain.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is a type of overuse sports injury caused by the repetitive motion of swinging a tennis racket. The stress from this motion can cause muscles and tendons to become inflamed or damaged. This damage can lead to pain, weakness, and tenderness in your forearm and elbow. Tennis elbow is also known as lateral epicondylitis.
While the name suggests only tennis players can get this sports injury, that’s not the case. Anyone participating in a repetitive activity that stresses the forearm muscles and tendons can develop a tennis elbow. This development includes painting, carpentry, cooking, and even using a computer mouse for long periods.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
The most common symptom of tennis elbow is pain outside your elbow. This pain may extend down your forearm into your wrist or shoulder. The joint pain may be dull, continual, or sharp and severe. You may also experience weakness in your hand or numbness.
If you think you may have tennis elbow, you must see a sports injury chiropractor for an accurate diagnosis. They will ask about your symptoms and how they began and conduct a physical examination of your arm, neck, and shoulder. They may also order imaging tests like an MRI or X-ray to rule out other conditions with symptoms like bursitis or arthritis.
Treatment for Tennis Elbow
Several treatment options are available for tennis elbow, including rest, ice, medications, physical therapy, and injections. If these treatments don’t provide relief after 6-12 weeks, you may require surgery to release the damaged tissue from the bone or to reattach torn tendons.
One promising new treatment option for tennis elbow is low-level laser therapy (LLLT). This light is a type of cold laser therapy that uses low-level lasers to penetrate deep into tissues without causing damage to the skin’s surface.
When applied directly to an injured tendon or muscle, LLLT can reduce inflammation and stimulate healing at the cellular level. Studies have shown that LLLT is an effective treatment for acute and chronic joint pain associated with tendinosis, tendonitis, bursitis, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and even arthritis.
Our Chiropractor in Birmingham, MI, Can Relieve Your Pain
If you’re looking for an alternative treatment option for your tennis elbow pain, look no further than Birmingham Wellness Center in Birmingham, MI. Our team of skilled chiropractors provides treatments to provide relief from chronic pain without any side effects. So schedule an appointment today by calling (248) 645-6070 to see how we can help you get back to your favorite activities pain-free.