What is tennis elbow?
 Tennis
elbow is a term used to describe soreness and pain felt on the outer (lateral)
part of the elbow. Tennis elbow is common and most people do not get it from
playing tennis. It is caused by injury, irritation, or inflammation of the tendons,
which attach on the outer side of the elbow (on the lateral epicondyle of the
humerus bone). These tendons are attached to muscles, which help bring the wrist
and the fingers back as well as rotate the forearm.
Tennis elbow can be caused by a single accident such as a direct blow to the
outside of the elbow. Most commonly it develops from overuse or repeated grasping
or twisting of the hand, wrist and forearm during everyday activity. This may
cause inflammation and microscopic tears in the tendons and muscles. It can
lead to pain, weakness, scarring, formation of adhesion and shortening of the
muscles and tendons.
Risk factors for tennis elbow
- Activities that involve repeated movements of the forearm, wrist, and hand.
This includes grasping and twisting arm movements.
- Improper equipment for work, sports, and daily activities.
- History of tendon injuries (tendonitis, recurrent sprains)
Treatment of tennis elbow
Tennis elbow can take 6 to 24 months to heal. Most recover within a year.
Injured tendons are likely to heal with minimal scarring and loss of strength,
with adequate rest for the area and proper treatment.
The most effective treatments include a short period of rest, soft tissue
therapy and a strengthening and stretching program for the involved area. Chiropractic
and acupuncture can also help to correct the underlying cause and alleviate
pain.
It is important to consult a health professional in order to receive a proper
diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
 How
Active Release Technique (ART) can help resolve tennis elbow
Tennis elbow responds extremely well to ART treatments. ART is used to specifically
remove or reduce scar tissue and adhesion formations in the involved muscle
in order to decrease the stress on the tendons of the outer part of the elbow.
ART aims to restore proper function of the involved muscles and tendon, which
will help eliminate pain and increase strength. Integrrating ART within the
treatment plan reduces recovery time.
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