Are you suffering from chronic elbow pain or discomfort? Is it significantly affecting your work performance and day-to-day routine? Then, now is the time to put a stop to this agonizing pain!
Chiropractic adjustment or chiropractic treatment has been proven effective in treating various body pains and injuries. If you are looking for a holistic approach to your elbow pain, you should consider chiropractic treatment.
In today's blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about chiropractic adjustment for elbow pain. Read on.
Common Elbow Pain Conditions
Before we talk about the principles of chiropractic adjustment for elbow pain relief, let us enumerate some of the most common elbow pain conditions:
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)
Tennis elbow pain or lateral epicondylitis is one of the most common elbow pain conditions. This is a form of tendonitis, which is usually caused by damaged muscles and tendons in the forearm and elbow joint. That's why when you have lateral epicondylitis, you may also experience forearm pain.
Muscles and tendons involved in a tennis elbow include connecting tissues and bony spurs on the outside of the elbow, also known as the lateral epicondyle. The most common cause of this damage or condition is a joint overuse injury.
As the name implies, this injured area is most commonly found in tennis players, though it is not limited to tennis players. Weightlifters and those who play contact sports or anyone who does heavy repetitive motion with their arms can also experience tennis elbow pain.
Consulting The Right Spinal Clinic's experienced chiropractor, Dr. Stephen Diamantides, is a great opportunity to learn more about tennis elbow injuries. He can accurately determine the root cause of your tennis elbow pain and provide the best chiropractic care to treat it.
Tennis Elbow Symptoms
If you have a tennis elbow injury, you may experience pain and soreness on the outside of your elbow. If you have tennis elbow, you may experience pain:
- when lifting or bending your arms
- when holding small objects like a tennis ball or pens
- when movement requires twisting your forearm like opening a jar or turning a doorknob or a door handle.
In most cases, a person with a tennis elbow condition may also experience stiffness and discomfort when fully extending their arms. Tennis elbow pain can last anywhere from a few weeks to even years, depending on the treatment plan and severity of your condition.
Other Treatments Available for Tennis Elbow Pain
Tennis elbow should not be ignored. If you experience any symptoms, be sure to consult an expert right away. Some of the most common treatment options for tennis elbow include the following:
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy is a good option for tennis elbow pain. Like chiropractic care, it is non-invasive and does not require any medications for pain relief. The goal of physical therapy for tennis elbow is to relieve pain and improve your strength and flexibility to prevent further injuries.
Physical therapy can also help improve blood circulation and oxygen supply to the tendons and elbow joint. This can help relax your muscles and relieve pain. Additionally, the physical therapist will also teach you some exercises and body stretching that can strengthen your muscles.
Recommended Exercises for Tennis Elbow Pain
Tennis elbow only requires basic and low-pact exercises. Some of the recommended exercises for tennis elbow pain include the following:
- Finger stretch
- Ball squeeze
- Wrist flexor stretch
- Wrist extensor stretch
- Wrist turn
- Forearm strengthening
- Eccentric and concentric exercises
Other Methods to Relieve Pain
You can also try these methods for tennis elbow pain relief:
- Ultrasound therapy
- Ice or cold therapy
- Tape, straps, and braces
Steroid Injections for Tennis Elbow Pain
There are steroid injections that can be used for tennis elbow pain. However, this option should not be your primary treatment option. Keep in mind that steroid injections are only used for short-term pain relief.
Because they do not really address the root cause of the problem, they can be helpful as a temporary measure while you find longer-term treatment options.
If steroids are helping, you can get up to 3 shots in the same area with at least a 3 to 6 months gap between shots. Be sure to consult your doctor if you are considering getting steroid injections.
Shockwave Therapy for Tennis Elbow Pain
This treatment plan is also non-invasive. While shockwave therapy is a safe procedure it may cause some minor side effects, such as bruising or skin irritation, this treatment plan may show results after a few sessions. However, it may not be effective in all cases.
Posterior Tennis Elbow (Triceps Tendonitis)
Another common elbow pain is posterior tennis elbow or triceps tendonitis. The difference between the lateral tennis elbow and the posterior tennis elbow is the areas affected. In the posterior tennis elbow, you can feel pain or discomfort in the back or underside of the elbow-- rather than the outside of the elbow.
Common Activities that can Cause Posterior Elbow Pain
People who are engaged with physical activities that require repetitive motions that rapidly extend the arms are prone to this injury. These activities include:
- Some weightlifting exercises, mostly triceps exercises
- Punching
- Serving
- Throwing
Other Treatment Options for Posterior Elbow
Aside from chiropractic care, here are other treatment options for the posterior elbow injury:
- Ice therapy
- Cross friction massage
- Myofascial release
- Rest
Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)
A golfer's elbow is like a tennis elbow. The only difference is the affected areas and the motions that cause it. If you have a golfer's elbow, you can feel the pain and discomfort inside the elbow, rather than the outside or the back of your elbow.
Many people who experience a golfer's elbow describe the symptoms as a sharp pain in the elbow and the forearm when trying to grip objects. This can be a result of damaged nerves and tendons due to repetitive motion and stress.
Golfer's Elbow Symptoms
Common symptoms of golfer's elbow include:
- Pain and tenderness in the inner side of the elbow area.
- Forearm pain
- Stiffness in the elbow and forearm area
- Weakness in your hands or wrists
- Numbness or tingling sensation in one or more fingers
Common Causes or Activities Leading to Golfer's Elbow Injury
Other than golf, here are other activities that can lead to this injury or condition:
- Racket sports like tennis and badminton
- Throwing sports such as baseball, softball, bowling, and basketball
- Weight training
- Any activities that require repetitive motions
Other Treatment Options for Golfer's Elbow Pain
As the name implies, golfers are prone to this kind of injury. Apart from chiropractic care, here are other treatment options for a golfer's elbow pain:
- Rest
- Ice therapy
- Graded exercise programs
- Cross friction massage
- Myofascial release
Posterior Elbow Impingement Syndrome
Also known as posterior elbow impingement, this condition or injury is usually caused by repetitive over-extension of the arms. At first, you may feel a sharp pain or discomfort in the elbow and forearm muscles. This can eventually lead to inflammation of the joints in the affected area. If not properly addressed, it can cause other injuries to the cartilage and bones.
Common Activities that can Cause Posterior Elbow Impingement Syndrome
People who are prone to this kind of injury include the following:
- Swimmers
- Boxers
- Racket sports players
Common Symptoms
Common posterior impingement syndrome symptoms include the following:
- Pain and tenderness inside the elbow area
- Stiffness in the joints
- Crackling sounds around the elbow area when moving your forearms
- Abnormal fluid build up around the affected area
- Restricted range of motion
- Swelling and bruising
Common Causes Posterior Elbow Impingement Syndrome
- Joint inflammation
- Bone spurs
- Bursitis
- Ruptured cartilage
- Damaged soft tissue
- Damaged ligaments, muscles, and tendons
Other Treatment Options for Posterior Impingement Syndrome
Apart from chiropractic care, other treatment options available are:
- Physical therapy
- Ice therapy
- Rest
- Surgical treatment
- Anti-inflammatory medication
- Activity modification
- Cortisone injection
Little League Elbow Overuse Injury
Repeated forced throwing is the primary cause of this injury. As the name implies, it is more common but not limited to young baseball players. Young pitchers, ages 9 - 16 usually experience this elbow pain. This injury happens when one of the elbow ligaments is pulled or tugged at one of the growth plates.
Little League Elbow Symptoms
If you have a child who is actively playing baseball, you need to be aware of little league elbow injury symptoms. A proper treatment plan is important to ensure your young kids lead a pain-free life!
Here are some of the most common symptoms of little league elbow injury:
- Elbow pain and forearm pain when throwing overhead
- Elbow pain and neck pain when lifting heavy objects or gripping something
- Inner elbow pain
- Redness around the elbow
- Warm skin on the affected area
Other Treatment Options for Little League Elbow Pain
In addition to chiropractic adjustments, here are other treatment methods for little league elbow pain:
- Lifestyle modifications
- Rest
- Improving baseball form
- Proper stretching and warm-ups
- Physical therapy
For a chronic issue, be sure to consult a healthcare professional.
Olecranon Bursitis (Elbow Bursitis)
Since bursae are your joint's shock absorbers, they are prone to injuries. Elbow bursitis occurs when there is damage or inflammation in the bursa of the elbow joint. Common causes of this elbow pain include the following:
- Trauma
- Extreme pressure on the elbow for a long period of time
- Infection
- Gout
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Olecranon Bursitis Symptoms
The most common symptoms of elbow bursitis include:
- Localized swelling
- Tenderness
- Inflammation
- Elbow pain
- Restricted mobility
- Warm skin on the affected area
- Redness
- And sometimes, fever
Olecranon Bursitis Treatment Options
Apart from chiropractic adjustments, here are other treatment options for elbow bursitis:
- RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)
- Anti-inflammatory medications
How Chiropractic Treatment Helps with Elbow Pain
Chiropractic has been proven to countless patients who suffer from different kinds of injuries. If you want to live a life free from elbow pain, you might want to consider consulting a family chiropractic expert.
Here's how chiropractors can help people who are dealing with elbow pain:
Breaks Up Scar Tissue
Scar tissues are common in elbow injuries. If left untreated, scar tissues can be a regular problem in the future. A qualified chiropractor can help break up scar tissues in the surrounding elbow joints. This can significantly help with the healing process.
Chiropractic techniques that can help treat scar tissues and elbow pain include the following:
- Graston technique
- Instrumental adjustment
- Affected manipulation
- Trigger point therapy
- Therapeutic massage
These chiropractic techniques are proven effective to reduce pain and discomfort. They can also accelerate the healing process. However, keep in mind that only qualified chiropractors can perform these techniques.
Improves Range of Motion
In addition to promoting the healing process and providing elbow pain relief, chiropractors can also help improve range of motion. This includes improving the mobility of your elbows, upper arms, neck, and head as well.
Chiropractors can help improve range of motion through chiropractic adjustments and manipulation. These techniques can help treat elbow joint problems and all affected tissues, including bones, muscles, and tendons. As a result, you can recover your full range of motion and improve flexibility, as well.
Reduces Inflammation
Inflamed joints are one of the primary causes of elbow injuries. An experienced chiropractor can help reduce inflammation by aligning your spine and joints through adjustments. A properly aligned spine prevents the production of neuropeptides. This process can help reduce inflammation.
In addition, chiropractic can also help reduce cytokine production. Overproduction of cytokines can lead to severe inflammation.
In addition to manipulation and mobilization therapies, chiropractors can also help treat joint problems and inflammation by providing lifestyle education and advice. During your next visit, a chiropractor should give you professional advice on the following:
- Anti-inflammation diet
- An exercise program that can help treat joint problems
- Weight loss
- Stress management
As you can see, the goal of chiropractic is not just to treat the symptoms of their patients but to promote their overall health and wellness.
Aligns Bones, Tendons, and Nerves
Through manipulation, mobilization, and certain exercises, chiropractors can help their patients correct the alignment of their bones, tendons, and nerves. This process can help treat certain elbow injuries.
Why You Should Choose The Right Spinal Clinic for Elbow Pain Treatment
The Right Spinal Clinic provides state-of-the-art chiropractic services. We have helped countless patients successfully recover from various different elbow injuries. Our chiropractic team works hand-in-hand with highly-experienced physical therapists to create individualized chiropractic programs tailored to fit the specific goals and conditions of each patient.
Here's what to expect from The Right Spinal Clinic's chiropractic services:
Led by one of the best chiropractors in Tampa Bay, Florida, The Right Spinal Clinic can provide you with the best results. Dr. Stephen Diamantides has helped countless patients over the course of his long and distinguished career. So, there's no need to stress yourself! Dr. Stephen can help you get back to your usual activities in no time!
What are you waiting for? Call us now to schedule an appointment!
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