Tennis Elbow: More Than Just a Sports Injury and How Osteopathy Can Help
Pain on the outside of your elbow that makes it difficult to shake hands, lift a kettle, or turn a doorknob is a common complaint. While its name suggests a sporting origin, tennis elbow (clinically known as lateral epicondylitis or lateral epicondylalgia) affects far more office workers, tradespeople, and gardeners than it does athletes.
This condition involves the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the bony bump on the outside of your elbow. Osteopathy offers a holistic and effective approach to managing tennis elbow by addressing not just the site of pain, but the underlying causes throughout the arm and body.
Key Facts About Tennis Elbow
A Tendon Issue: Tennis elbow is a "tendinopathy," meaning it involves degeneration and failed healing of the forearm extensor tendons, rather than simple, acute inflammation.
An Overuse Injury: It is primarily caused by repetitive strain and overloading of the forearm muscles.
Not Just for Tennis Players: Only about 5-10% of people diagnosed with tennis elbow actually play tennis. It is more commonly linked to occupational and daily activities.
Common Causes and Risk Factors
Tennis elbow is typically caused by repetitive gripping and wrist extension activities that overload the tendons. Common causes include:
Repetitive Manual Tasks: Professions or hobbies involving painting, plumbing, carpentry, knitting, or extensive computer mouse use.
Forceful Gripping: Activities that require sustained or forceful gripping, such as using tools, playing racquet sports with poor technique, or carrying heavy luggage.
Sudden Increase in Activity: A rapid uptick in a new sport, hobby, or DIY project without adequate conditioning.
Poor Biomechanics: Weakness or stiffness in the shoulder, neck, or upper back can alter how forces are transmitted down the arm, placing extra strain on the elbow.
Age: It is most common in adults between 30 and 50 years of age.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Pain Location: Aching or burning pain on the outside of the elbow, which may radiate down the forearm.
Pain with Gripping: Weakness in the forearm and a sharp increase in pain when gripping objects, shaking hands, or opening a jar.
Tenderness: Pain when pressing on the bony bump (lateral epicondyle) on the outside of the elbow.
Morning Stiffness: Stiffness in the elbow, particularly after periods of rest.
How Can Osteopathy Help with Tennis Elbow?
Osteopathic management of tennis elbow focuses on reducing pain, promoting tendon healing, and, most importantly, correcting the biomechanical faults that are overloading the tendons.
During your initial consultation, we will:
Take a detailed history of your pain, daily activities, work habits, and any recent changes in your routine.
Perform a physical examination to assess your elbow's range of motion, identify tender points, and conduct specific orthopaedic tests.
Conduct a biomechanical assessment of your neck, shoulder, wrist, and hand to identify contributing factors from other areas.
This whole-body assessment is crucial because a stiff neck or a weak shoulder can force the forearm muscles to work harder, leading to elbow strain.
What Does Osteopathic Treatment Involve?
Using a range of gentle, hands-on techniques, we aim to:
Reduce Pain and Muscle Tension: Soft tissue massage, myofascial release, and stretching are used to relax the tight, overworked forearm extensor muscles and alleviate tension on the tendon.
Improve Joint Mobility: Gentle mobilisation of the elbow, wrist, and the joints of the neck and shoulder can restore normal mechanics, ensuring forces are distributed evenly up the arm.
Address Nerve Irritation: Sometimes, pain in the elbow can be influenced by irritated nerves in the neck. We use specific techniques to relieve this pressure and improve nerve function.
Correct Biomechanical Imbalances: We work to improve the function and coordination of your entire upper limb to reduce strain on the elbow.
Provide Personalised Advice and Rehabilitation: You will receive guidance on:
Activity Modification: How to adjust your daily tasks to reduce tendon load while it heals.
Ergonomics: Practical advice for your workstation, tool use, or sporting technique.
Progressive Exercise Rehabilitation: A tailored program is essential. We will guide you through specific, graded exercises to gradually strengthen the tendon and forearm muscles, which is key to long-term recovery and preventing recurrence.
When to Seek Further Medical Help
It is important to get a correct diagnosis for your elbow pain. Please consult your GP for a referral if you experience:
Severe, disabling pain that prevents you from using your arm.
Elbow pain following a significant fall or trauma.
Signs of infection, such as fever, or significant redness, warmth, or swelling around the joint.
Numbness or tingling in your hand or fingers.
If your symptoms do not start to improve after several weeks of conservative care.
Your GP can help rule out other conditions like arthritis, nerve compression, or a fracture, and may discuss other management options if necessary.
Find Lasting Relief from Elbow Pain
Tennis elbow can be a stubborn condition, but with a comprehensive approach, recovery is very achievable. Osteopathy provides a safe, effective, and drug-free pathway to not only alleviate your pain but also to address the root causes and empower you with strategies to maintain your arm health.
Click here to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced osteopaths. Let us help you get back to your daily activities, pain-free.
References
*Vaquero-Picado, A., Barco, R., & Antuña, S. A. (2016). Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow. EFORT Open Reviews, 1(11), 391–397. [Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367546/]*
*Coombes, B. K., Bisset, L., & Vicenzino, B. (2015). Management of lateral elbow tendinopathy: one size does not fit all. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 45(11), 938-949. [Link: https://www.jospt.org/doi/10.2519/jospt.2015.5841]*
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). (2020). Musculoskeletal conditions. [Link: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-musculoskeletal-conditions/musculoskeletal-conditions]
Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information only and is not intended as a substitute for professional health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a registered health practitioner, such as your General Practitioner (GP) or osteopath, for diagnosis and treatment of health conditions. The information provided is based on the best available evidence at the time of publication but should not be relied upon as a sole source of information. Individual results from osteopathic treatment may vary based on the individual’s specific condition and response to care. The exercise rehabilitation component is crucial for managing this condition, and adherence to a tailored program is recommended for optimal outcomes.