Elbow pain can be a nuisance and disrupt our daily lives as it can impact lifting and holding objects. There are various types of elbow pains and knowing which type you are experiencing can help you find the right treatments to manage your symptoms.
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is a common injury that elicits pain and weakness in the elbow and arm. The tendons in the forearm are overloaded due to repetitive use and improper mechanics. Since it’s a repetitive stress injury, Tennis Elbow usually occurs on a person’s dominant hand.
It’s layman name comes from it’s common association with tennis players, who develop this condition due to repeated improper backhand strokes, but often appear with occupations or hobbies that involve using tools like plumbers, gardeners, and chefs.
The medical name, Lateral Epicondylitis, refers to the structure in the elbow that becomes inflamed from strain and overuse.
What Causes Tennis Elbow:
● Loaded backhand motions in racquet sports
● Vibrations from work tools (ex. drills, jackhammers)
● Using hand tools (ex. screwdrivers, garden shears)
● Repetitive activities (ex: using the mouse continuously)
I feel so lucky to have found Kody! He has helped me a ton to recover from an elbow injury I sustained while training to compete at Canadian Nationals for weightlifting. Thanks to Kody, I was able to compete pain free and place 5th in my weight class. I still see Kody on a regular basis now to maintain any aches and pains I get from my heavy lifting and to keep my elbow from flaring up. I highly recommend Kody to any athlete needing treatment & rehab. He is very knowledgeable and really puts in the effort to get to know you and maximize your time with him at the clinic. Thanks for keeping me healthy!
How We Take Care of Your Tennis Elbow
With an integrated team of Chiropractors, Physiotherapists, Registered Massage Therapists, and Kinesiologists, we have you covered for your elbow-related problems.
Seeing different practitioners can be helpful as there may be various reasons for your elbow pains.Treatments in a multidisciplinary clinic can help address underlying issues from multiple aspects.
A combination of different treatments can include:
● Soft tissue manipulation to address muscle tightness and trigger points
● Stretching and exercise to manage between treatments
● Chiropractic adjustments to help with stiff joints in the elbow, wrist and shoulder
● Acupuncture and massage therapy to decrease stress in the elbow area
● Ergonomic changes to your work setting to decrease stress on your elbow
If your condition does require further testing or treatment, we can refer you to one of the trusted specialists that we have in our network.
What does Tennis Elbow Feel Like?
● Pain on the outside of elbow or back of the forearm and hand
● Weakness when holding a cup or turning door knobs
● Stiffness when you straighten your hand
● Swollen and warm to the touch around the outside of the elbow
What To Expect During Your First Visit
Meeting with a practitioner for the first time can be a little intimidating. We want you to be as comfortable as possible.
We want to understand what is troubling you so we can treat you effectively. Know that whatever you disclose will be held with the utmost confidentiality.
Upon meeting your practitioner, they will:
● Go through a brief interview process to understand you and your condition
● Share their thoughts and what we can do about your condition
● Provide you with homecare, either an exercise or modification, to complement the treatment
Baseline has taken steps to ensure that all of us are as safe from Covid as possible. We have a pre-screening questionnaire, and we ensure that everyone wears their protective equipment. In between patients, we take the time to properly clean all surfaces that may have been used so that the next patient is safe.
You don’t have to live with elbow pain
To summarize, elbow pain is common but manageable. Despite there being various reasons why someone can have elbow pain, finding the right modalities and practitioners can help you address the underlying problem and decrease symptoms.If you resonate with any of these points, give Baseline a call or go online and book an appointment with one of our practitioners.