Tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is a real pain, trust me. Everyone is familiar with the term "tennis elbow," but most of us give it little thought until we experience it ourselves. A few years ago, I couldn't move my lower arm for weeks because of a problem with a tendon or ligament. Miraculously, a cortisone shot fixed the problem.
Whether you choose cortisone shots or a brace, both are proven methods for alleviating tennis elbow.
The cortisone injection did help, but I'm worried that it was just hiding the pain, so I'm going to be sure to stretch and strengthen these muscles and also wear a brace for part of the day. Last but not least, I was also icing my arm to help with the tennis elbow that had started to hurt there.
Despite its reputation as a relaxing pastime, tennis may really do serious damage to your muscles and joints if you don't play properly, as seen by the prevalence of injuries like tennis elbow.
Anatomy of a Tennis Elbow
Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow): Causes and Signs
Inflammation and soreness on the outside of the elbow is known as tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis.
Anyone who uses their wrists and forearms repeatedly over time is at risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Tennis elbow is the result of muscle spasms in the forearm, supinator, or extensor muscles.
Physiology of Tennis Elbow
The supinator muscles of the forearm are activated when the hand is turned inside out, as if holding a bowl of soup.
The way the forearm extensor muscles move is a lot like a tennis backhand.
Spasms happen when you use muscles that haven't been stretched, strengthened, or warmed up properly.
Muscles in spasm are contracted, lose range of motion, and pull, putting continuous stress on the surrounding tendons. Inflammation and discomfort will result from this in the long run.
Tennis elbow therapy
Whether you're preparing for a tennis match or just sweeping the floor, it's important to get your forearm and shoulder muscles in shape.
Correct tennis hitting technique is crucial to avoid muscular tension while striking the ball. If you want to be sure you are making solid contact with the tennis ball, you should see a pro.
Regular pre-and post-game arm stretches and strengthening exercises.
Here are some examples of different ways to stretch.
Acupuncture is used to target specific trigger points in and around the forearm, which relieves muscle spasms. Instead of steroids, homoeopathic injections are used to treat inflamed tendons and muscle spasms to relieve pain and inflammation all over the body.
Tennis Elbow Flexion
Conditioning Through Flexibility and Resistance
If you hold your arm out in front of you with the palm facing down, you may make your fingers point back toward the ground by pressing down with the other hand. Put a little pressure on the fingers until they turn and point in your direction.
When a muscle is stretched, the pressure applied by the soft tissue release helps the muscle relax.
When you get a massage, the stiffness in your muscles and the strain on your tendons both melt away.
A little update: after a few days of icing, resting, and putting a cuff on the top of my lower arm, my tennis elbow was gone. Now that the discomfort from tennis elbow has subsided, I have resumed my weightlifting routine, and my arm is stronger than it has been in years.
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