What is Elbow Pain?
Elbow pain is any sort of discomfort associated with the outside or inside part of the elbow where the humerus, radius, and ulna bones meet. They form a functional joint that has many uses for the hands and wrists to write, as well as picking up, throwing, catching, or holding objects.
Elbow pain can occur when the tendons attached to the elbow are over used, causing excess stress from repeated movement or activity, producing a swollen or inflamed body part.
Any repetitive motion involving excess flexion, extension, pronation, or supination of the elbow and wrist over a long period of time can result in elbow pain. Individuals from the age of 40 upwards are more susceptible to development of elbow pain. It is essential to acknowledge the pain before it interferes with daily activities.
Types of Elbow Pain
The two most common types of overuse elbow pain are Tennis elbow and Golfer’s elbow. From their names, it can easily be deduced that both types of elbow pain are caused by playing tennis or golf respectively.
A number of other factors can lead to elbow pain, but many tennis athletes and golfers often experience elbow pain caused by the repetitive nature of the sports. More elbow pains such as nursemaids elbow, fractures, and even cancerous lesions need medical attention for diagnosis and treatment.
Tennis Elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, occurs gradually over time from repeated swinging of a tennis racquet while playing tennis, especially the backhand swing.
It happens on the outer area of the elbow when the tendons of the lateral epicondyle and wrist extensors are stressed, leading to microscopic wearing and tearing. This leads to inflammation, i.e., swelling, redness, heat and/or pain of the tissue in the area.
Tennis players and other sports people who play sports like squash, fencing, racquet, and weight lifting often develop tennis elbow pain. It is also more susceptible in individuals over 40. People who are involved in other physical activity can also develop tennis elbow. Carpenters, plumbers and painters are not exempted too.
Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is slightly different from tennis elbow, because it develops on the wrist flexor tendons of the inner arm tendons attached to the medial epicondyle. It is caused by any activity involving repeated flexing, bending, and lifting of the arm in a throwing or lifting motion, more commonly during a golf swing.
Gardening, shoveling, playing baseball, weight lifting, and playing golf are the chief culprits known to cause golfers elbow.
Symptoms of Elbow pain
Irrespective of the type of elbow pain being experienced by an individual, the general symptoms are as follows:
- A swollen inner elbow or outer elbow
- Pain in the forearm or elbow when your use your fingers or wrist flexors and extensors
- Stiffness in the elbow joint
- Pain when making a fist or going for a “high five”
- Pain when using your arm to do just about anything
Treatment
Treating elbow pain is not difficult and the following procedures can effectively help it:
- Rest the wrist, elbow, and arms from strenuous activities
- Ultrasound to the muscles of the elbow and forearm
- Cold laser treatment to the elbow joint
- Topical analgesics such as biofreeze or icy hot to the elbow
- Non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen
- Forearm brace
- Cold compress for 20 minutes to the elbow and forearm muscles
- Chiropractic adjustments to the elbow to improve range of motion and reduce stiffness
- Deep tissue work to the affected muscles by a skilled chiropractor or therapist.
Chiropractic treatment for elbow pain is a very safe and cost effective way to treat elbow pain from playing golf, tennis or other activity.
If you suffer from elbow pain and are looking for relief, call our office to schedule an appointment.