Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow: How Chiropractic Care May Help With the Pain

Ah! Summer’s almost here, and many of us have already been active with our favourite outdoor sport, like golf or tennis. There’s nothing quite relaxing and peaceful as an early weekend tee-off, or quite as energizing as playing a tennis match with friends or partners.

What do these 2 sports have in common? They are often the cause of discomfort, pain and sometimes even injury, due to the repetitive motions of hitting a ball, which place stress on the muscles, tendons and joints in our bodies.

Let’s look at these conditions, and see how chiropractic care may help alleviate your discomfort or pain.

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the outer part of the elbow. Constantly hitting the tennis ball can cause small tears in the tendons and lead to inflammation, pain, and weakness in your forearm muscles. These tendons and muscles attach to the lateral epicondyle, which is a bony prominence on the outer part of the elbow joint.

What is Golfer's Elbow?

On the other hand, golfer's elbow – which is also known as medial epicondylitis - is a similar condition that causes pain and inflammation in the inner part of the elbow.  The repetitive motion of swinging the golf club and hitting the ball can cause small tears in the tendons and similarly lead to inflammation, pain, and weakness in your forearm muscles, similarly to tennis elbow. In golfer’s elbow, the tendons and muscles are attached to the medial epicondyle, another bony prominence but which is on the inner part of the elbow.

Impact on the Body

They may not sound like serious injuries, but those of us who have experienced either tennis elbow or golfer's elbow – or even both! – can attest to the significant impact it can have on your ability to perform simple daily activities. The pain and discomfort associated with these sports-related conditions can limit your mobility and reduce your arm strength. In some cases, the pain may radiate down your arm or into your wrist, causing further discomfort.

How Chiropractic Care May Help With Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow

Chiropractic care may be an effective way to alleviate the discomfort associated with both golfer's elbow and tennis elbow.

A physical exam is necessary to assess the extent of the injury and determine the best course of treatment, which may use a combination of techniques including joint manipulation, massage therapy, and stretching exercises, aimed at reducing inflammation, improving circulation, and promoting overall healing.

As wellness consultants, chiropractors may recommend some temporary lifestyle adjustments, such as avoiding or modifying activities that may aggravate your specific condition, and may also suggest incorporating exercises to strengthen your forearm muscles. They may also provide advice on proper posture and ergonomics to help minimize the risk of future injury.

Not sure what to do? Call Dr. Lanoue

If you’re experiencing discomfort or pain as a result of your sporting activities, and you’re not sure what to do about it, book an appointment with Dr. Lanoue so he can assess your condition. It may be nothing to worry about, but it may also need more immediate attention; a chiropractor may be able to tell you and may recommend a course of action for your specific condition.

Better Health may be for you: Call Dr. Lanoue

 Or schedule an appointment with us today to get started on the right path.

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