Elbow Pain
Resolving "Tennis Elbow" Without the Court: Overcoming Lateral Epicondylitis
It is incredibly common to be diagnosed with Tennis Elbow even if you have never picked up a tennis racquet in your life.
Tennis elbow is simply the colloquial name for a mechanical condition known as lateral epicondylitis. The lateral epicondyle is the bony bump on the outside of your elbow, and it serves as the foundational anchor point for the group of muscles responsible for lifting your wrist and extending your fingers (the forearm extensors).
When these muscles are subjected to repetitive, everyday strain, they become severely hyper-toned, pulling violently on their shared tendon attachment at the elbow. This constant mechanical tugging causes localized inflammation, micro-tearing, and sharp, debilitating outer elbow pain.
The Root Causes: Daily Repetitive Strain
While a forceful backhand stroke in tennis can certainly trigger this injury, modern lifestyle habits are the most frequent culprits. The condition is primarily driven by:
It is incredibly common to be diagnosed with Tennis Elbow even if you have never picked up a tennis racquet in your life.
Tennis elbow is simply the colloquial name for a mechanical condition known as lateral epicondylitis. The lateral epicondyle is the bony bump on the outside of your elbow, and it serves as the foundational anchor point for the group of muscles responsible for lifting your wrist and extending your fingers (the forearm extensors).
When these muscles are subjected to repetitive, everyday strain, they become severely hyper-toned, pulling violently on their shared tendon attachment at the elbow. This constant mechanical tugging causes localized inflammation, micro-tearing, and sharp, debilitating outer elbow pain.
The Root Causes: Daily Repetitive Strain
While a forceful backhand stroke in tennis can certainly trigger this injury, modern lifestyle habits are the most frequent culprits. The condition is primarily driven by:
- Repetitive Finger Extension: Spending hours typing at a computer keyboard or clicking a mouse keeps the finger extensors under continuous, rapid contraction.
- Forceful Wrist Extension: Activities that require a tight grip coupled with wrist extension—such as using hand tools, lifting heavy objects, cooking, or playing musical instruments.
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The Anatomy of the Forearm Extensors
The forearm is packed with an intricate network of narrow, dense muscles. To provide lasting relief, our treatment targets the entire extensor compartment covered in our clinical training:
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Source: zygotebody.com
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Our Clinical Approach to Structural Relief
Because these forearm extensors are dense, highly active, and tightly packed together, they develop a very rigid, stubborn texture when injured.
1. Precision Soft Tissue Mobilization
When chronically overloaded, these narrow muscle bundles feel like high-tension steel cables. Because of their rounded, rope-like shape and high tension, they are notoriously difficult to treat. When a therapist applies direct downward pressure, the muscle bundle naturally wants to roll or slide out of the way.
2. Extremity Chiropractic Adjustments
Muscles move joints, but restricted joints also keep muscles locked in a defensive spasm. The forearm extensors cross multiple joints from the elbow down to the fingers.
Dr. Rob and Dr. Abe carefully assess the alignment of the elbow and the small bones of the wrist. By performing precise, gentle chiropractic adjustments to the wrist and elbow, they restore fluid joint tracking. Removing the mechanical restriction in the wrist instantly unloads the continuous tension on the forearm muscles, allowing them to remain soft and pliable after your massage therapy.
Timeline and Ergonomic Recovery
Because our treatment addresses the specific "cable" mechanics of the forearm, results are highly efficient. Depending on the severity of the tissue strain and how much time you are required to spend typing at work, a typical treatment plan successfully resolves tennis elbow within 2 to 4 focused clinical visits.
To maintain your recovery, we work with you to analyze your daily ergonomics, teaching you how to modify your workstation layout and utilize a lacrosse ball at home to actively roll out forearm tension before it locks up the elbow.
Because these forearm extensors are dense, highly active, and tightly packed together, they develop a very rigid, stubborn texture when injured.
1. Precision Soft Tissue Mobilization
When chronically overloaded, these narrow muscle bundles feel like high-tension steel cables. Because of their rounded, rope-like shape and high tension, they are notoriously difficult to treat. When a therapist applies direct downward pressure, the muscle bundle naturally wants to roll or slide out of the way.
- Stabilized Deep Tissue Massage: Our therapists are highly trained to firmly trap and stabilize the specific extensor bundle with one hand, preventing it from sliding laterally. Using the treating hand, they maintain slow, deep, deliberate pressure precisely on top of the muscle belly as it travels down the forearm. Keeping exact contact without slipping off is vital to achieving a true therapeutic release.
- Tendon Decompression: We target the micro-scarring at the lateral epicondyle tendon attachment using Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) to stimulate healing blood flow and restore flexibility to the entire attachment site.
- Pin & Stretch Technique: Pinning the tightest extensor fibers near the elbow while actively flexing your wrist and fingers forward, physically forcing the shortened cables to elongate.
2. Extremity Chiropractic Adjustments
Muscles move joints, but restricted joints also keep muscles locked in a defensive spasm. The forearm extensors cross multiple joints from the elbow down to the fingers.
Dr. Rob and Dr. Abe carefully assess the alignment of the elbow and the small bones of the wrist. By performing precise, gentle chiropractic adjustments to the wrist and elbow, they restore fluid joint tracking. Removing the mechanical restriction in the wrist instantly unloads the continuous tension on the forearm muscles, allowing them to remain soft and pliable after your massage therapy.
Timeline and Ergonomic Recovery
Because our treatment addresses the specific "cable" mechanics of the forearm, results are highly efficient. Depending on the severity of the tissue strain and how much time you are required to spend typing at work, a typical treatment plan successfully resolves tennis elbow within 2 to 4 focused clinical visits.
To maintain your recovery, we work with you to analyze your daily ergonomics, teaching you how to modify your workstation layout and utilize a lacrosse ball at home to actively roll out forearm tension before it locks up the elbow.
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Questions?
Text us at 833-846-1911 |