Despite its name, tennis elbow is not limited to people who play tennis. Repetitive use of the arm and forearm can place ongoing stress on the tissues around the elbow, making discomfort a problem for people with many different occupations, hobbies, and activities.

When elbow pain persists, determining what is contributing to the problem is important. Tennis elbow is one of the arm and hand conditions treated at NY Disc Chiropractic, where several different therapies are available depending on the patient’s individual condition.

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, involves the tendons that attach to the outside of the elbow. Repetitive movements of the wrist and forearm can contribute to irritation and pain in this area.

Although racket sports can contribute to the condition, similar repetitive movements can occur during work, exercise, home projects, and other activities. This is why someone does not need to regularly play tennis to develop symptoms commonly associated with tennis elbow.

Elbow discomfort may become particularly noticeable during activities involving gripping or repeated use of the hand, wrist, and forearm.

Why Persistent Elbow Problems Can Be Difficult

Repetitive-use problems can be frustrating because the affected area may continue to experience stress during normal daily activities. Simply avoiding one particular sport or activity may not always eliminate all of the movements that aggravate the area.

It is also important not to assume that every case of elbow pain is tennis elbow. NY Disc Chiropractic treats several arm and hand conditions, including tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, pronator syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, DeQuervain’s syndrome, nerve entrapment, and bicep tendonitis.

An evaluation can help identify the condition involved before an appropriate treatment approach is selected.

Treatment Options for Tennis Elbow

NY Disc Chiropractic offers multiple treatment technologies that may be considered for persistent elbow problems.

One of these is Radial Shockwave Therapy. According to the clinic, the treatment produces shockwaves that spread outward and can be used to address stubborn muscle spasms and fibrous tissue. The clinic specifically identifies tennis elbow as one of the conditions for which Radial Shockwave Therapy may be used.

ThermoStim combines a metal blade edge, electrical muscle stimulation, and cold or heat within a single treatment tool. This combination can be used to address muscle spasms, adhesions, and stiffness and is particularly useful for chronic tendon problems such as tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow.

The appropriate treatment ultimately depends on the individual patient’s condition rather than the name of the symptom alone.

A More Individualized Approach to Elbow Pain

Persistent elbow discomfort can make gripping, lifting, working, exercising, and other everyday movements more difficult. Instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all approach, identifying the structures and condition involved allows treatment to be selected more specifically.

Depending on the findings, treatment may involve one therapy or a combination of available options. Customized Therapeutic Exercises may also be incorporated when appropriate to address strength, flexibility, endurance, or muscular imbalances as treatment progresses.

Patients experiencing persistent pain around the elbow can have the condition evaluated to determine whether tennis elbow or another arm condition may be contributing to their symptoms. To learn more about available treatment options or schedule a consultation, visit NY Disc Chiropractic.