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Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common ailment that plagues many athletes, office workers, and individuals engaged in repetitive arm movements. Characterized by pain and tenderness on the outer side of the elbow, this condition can be debilitating, hindering daily activities and impacting performance. While conventional treatments like rest, ice therapy, and physical therapy are often recommended, many of my patients find quick relief in acupuncture.
Despite its name, tennis elbow doesn't solely affect tennis players; it can arise from any activity that involves repetitive gripping, twisting motions of the forearm, or overuse of the muscles and tendons in the arm. This includes activities such as typing, gardening, painting, golfing and, yes, playing tennis. The repetitive stress placed on the tendons leads to microtears, inflammation, and pain, particularly where the tendons of the forearm muscles attach to the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow.
There are a few ways in which acupuncture works for this, making it a dynamic therapy for tennis elbow sufferers.
Beneficial Points of Acupuncture for Tennis Elbow:
1. Modulating Pain perception:
Acupuncture is believed to modulate pain perception, reduce inflammation, and promote the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. By targeting specific acupuncture points related to the affected area, practitioners aim to restore balance and alleviate pain.
2. Localized Pain Relief:
Acupuncture targets specific points near the elbow where the pain and inflammation are most acute. By stimulating these points, acupuncture can directly alleviate pain, swelling, and tenderness, providing immediate relief to the affected area.
3. Muscle Relaxation:
Tennis elbow often involves tightness and tension in the muscles of the forearm and upper arm. Acupuncture can promote muscle relaxation by triggering the release of neurotransmitters that inhibit muscle contractions, allowing the muscles to unwind and reducing strain on the tendons.
4. Improved Blood Circulation:
Acupuncture encourages better blood flow to the injured tissues, facilitating the delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and healing factors essential for tissue repair. Enhanced circulation also helps remove metabolic waste products and inflammatory substances, promoting a faster recovery process.
5. Stress Reduction:
Chronic pain from tennis elbow can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being, leading to stress, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. Acupuncture has been shown to have calming effects on the nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing stress levels. By addressing the mind-body connection, acupuncture can help individuals cope better with the challenges of managing their condition.
6. Enhanced Range of Motion:
In addition to relieving pain, acupuncture can improve joint mobility and flexibility, allowing individuals with tennis elbow to regain full range of motion in the affected arm. By targeting both the muscles, tendons and even bone with acupuncture and electric stimulation, function is restored allowing movement and flexibility again.
7. Long-Term Relief:
While some treatments may provide temporary symptom relief, acupuncture offers the potential for long-lasting results by addressing the underlying imbalances contributing to tennis elbow. By promoting the body's innate healing abilities and restoring balance to the energetic meridians, acupuncture can help prevent recurrence and promote overall musculoskeletal health.
8. Minimal Side Effects:
Compared to conventional treatments like pain medications or corticosteroid injections, acupuncture is generally well-tolerated and associated with minimal side effects. The risk of adverse reactions is low, making it a safe and suitable option for individuals seeking natural alternatives or those who may have concerns about the potential risks of pharmacological interventions.
Numerous studies have investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating tennis elbow, with promising results. A systematic review published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy concluded that acupuncture provided significant pain relief and improved function in individuals with chronic lateral epicondylitis. Another study published in the Clinical Journal of Pain found that acupuncture was more effective than corticosteroid injections in reducing pain and improving grip strength in patients with tennis elbow. These findings highlight the potential of acupuncture as a safe and viable treatment option for managing this debilitating condition.
So book your session before tennis season begins so you can play, be restored and look forward to playing! As always, seek a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac) who specializes in orthopedics and electro-acupuncture for this.