Dear Patients/Bloggers,
As a Chiropractor i am frequently being confronted with the peripheral joint problem of tennis elbow, that is coupled with the patients spinal condition ie back pain and neck pain that they come to me for.
First of all i will briefly describe what tennis elbow is, it is worthy of note that tennis elbow is not specific only to tennis players but to occupations that require repetitve task such as a plumber, labourer, hairdresser, panel beater as well as office worker.
The condition is also not limited to inflammation of the outer elbow or the common extensor tendon specifically the extensor carpi radialis brevis. Tennis elbow is in my view a chronic degeneration of the fibers of the common extensor tendon not exclusive to a specific tendon but can be one or more tendons concurrently causing the pain. Hence why some patients may experience the symptoms from 6months to 2years in severe cases.
Treatment involves rest from aggrevating factors, pick up items with a "palm up"approach as apposed to a "palm down" approach. Dry needling can be tried on the extensor tendon, but what usually helps most is a combined physio/chiropractic approach that follows.
Cross friction of the common extensor tendon of the forearm, tens for 10mins, chiropractic spinal manipulation of C 5,6 as well as elbow and wrist mobilisations and some ultrasound at 0.5w for 3-4mins, after this treatment the patient is instructed to ice daily esp as the end of the day for 10mins.
For more information contact Sydney Wide Chiropractic
www.chiropractorsydneychiropractic.com.au
Office: (02)9559 8877
