Tennis / Golfers Elbow

TENNIS ELBOW : is a common name for an overuse injury that occurs to the muscles on the outside of the elbow which are responsible for wrist extension.  The proper name is lateral epicondylitis but due to the large number of tennis players that came down with the injury, it’s now commonly referred to as tennis elbow.

Tennis elbow is more prevalent in a person’s dominant arm (right handed person getting it in their right arm).  Not surprisingly, tennis elbow is suffered by many people and not just tennis players.  It is caused by overuse of the elbow and can happen to anybody.

Symptoms of tennis elbow include: Worsening of pain when squeezing objects or shaking hands.  Pain is made worse by stabilizing or moving the wrist with force. Some examples include lifting, opening jars, using tools or even handling simple utensils such as a toothbrush or knife and fork.

GOLFER’S ELBOW : is similar to tennis elbow although it is a pain at the inside of the elbow caused by injury to the muscles that flex the wrist.  The proper name for golfer’s elbow is medial epicondylitis.  It is also caused by overuse injuries.

Despite the name, golfers elbow doesn’t just affect golfers. Any repetitive hand, wrist, or forearm motions can lead to can lead to golfer’s elbow. Risky sports include 

tennis, bowling, and baseball — in fact, it’s sometimes called pitcher’s elbow or Little League Elbow, when it effects children. People may also get it from using tools like screwdrivers and hammers, raking, or painting.

At the Back to Health Chiropractic & Acupuncture Wellness Center, we know from training and experience that both tennis/golfers elbow respond incredibly well to A.R.T.® and the Graston Technique®. With the proper care, most people can continue their activities throughout the treatment process. Call our office today to begin playing pain free!

BACK TO HEALTH : (203) 263-0411