Why does pain increase around the elbow?
The muscles and tendons attached on the lateral or medial epicondyle of the elbow (humerus bone) are easily irritated by repetitive use of the wrist or vigorous use of the forearm muscles.
When these muscles are being stressed from excessive movement, it can create microtears in the muscle and tendon. Through the healing process of the body, if there is no good stimulation to make a good circulation such as stretching and massage, the injured tissue condition is going to be progressively worse by accumulating scar tissues. The tissues are getting thicker, tighter, less flexible and glued together with other tissues (Myofascial restriction). In this condition, muscles, tendons and nerves do not glide smoothly while moving your joint.
Eventually, it develops trigger points (irritated muscle knot) and it becomes the main source of pain.
It can also occur with inactivity of your muscles due to decreased circulation and oxygen level.
Main Characteristic of elbow pain
- Poor connective tissue condition (myofascial restriction)
- Palpable Trigger points as a main pain source
- Nerve entrapment happens due to surrounding tissue tightness
- Decreased range of motion and strength in elbow and forearm
- Healing process is limited in the forearm tendons due to its nature of poor circulation (Tendons do not have good circulation so it needs external stimulation for healing)
Different names of the elbow pain and Solution
Elbow Pain…Tennis elbow, Golfer’s elbow, medial or lateral epicondylitis, tendinitis, tendonitis, fibrosis… It comes with different names of diagnosis. The term often includes -itis meaning there is inflammation. However, taking anti-inflammatory medication or steroid injection is not a fundamental solution.
What’s causing the inflammation is abnormally increased tension in the tendon and muscles. We need to normalize poor muscle and tendon condition by breaking up the adhesion (Myofascial restriction) and releasing trigger points. This is the fundamental solution for elbow pain.
Your symptoms may include
- Pain and stiffness in the inside or outside of your elbow
- Pain, tension, numbness and tingling sensation radiate into your forearm and wrist
- Difficulty doing common tasks, such as turning a doorknob or holding a coffee cup
- Difficulty with gripping activities
- Weakness in the forearm, wrist, or hand
Treatment Protocol
- Normalize poor connective tissue quality in wrist flexors/ extensors/ finger muscles (it is located around your elbow and forearm)
- Find Trigger points and release it with manual therapy technique and using therapy tools (Releasing and deactivating trigger points are key to success)
- Once the pain level significantly reduces, begin eccentric strengthening and stretching exercise program. The tensile force applied while doing eccentric exercise is also effective to release myofascial tightness in your elbow.
It comes with different names of diagnosis. The term often includes -itis meaning there is inflammation. However, taking anti-inflammatory medication or steroid injection is not a fundamental solution.
Most effective treatment method
Trigger points in the flexor and extensor tendons are the main cause of the pain. Experienced practitioner can find the Trigger points by palpation skill and release it using ischemic compression technique or a special therapy device
Shockwave can break up adhesion and promote blood circulation. This is a very effective machine for the abnormal tendon pathologies
Break up the adhesion between the muscles, tendon and fascia. The practitioner needs to make friction movement using fingers, elbow or using a special therapy tool
In chronic condition, tight and imbalanced muscles change the alignment of the elbow joint. By collecting the alignment of the joint, we can decrease pain, improve blood circulation and speed up healing process. We use Mulligan’s movement with mobilization technique or joint alignment correction tape
Eccentric exercise creates tensile force in the tendons which help break up adhesion.
There are two types of the taping methods. The first one is joint alignment correction taping. It improves the alignment of the joint continuously even after the treatment session for 2-3 days. The second one is Kinesiotaping. The elastic feature of this tape reduces pain, swelling, and improve muscle activation.
How to treat Golfer’s elbow
The treatment protocol is similar with tennis elbow. For Golfer’s elbow, we need to identify trigger points and myofascial adhesion points adjacent to the medial epicondyle and muscle belly (common flexor tendons).
How to prevent elbow injury
- Perform enough dynamic stretching > 5 minutes before doing main exercise
- When you perform sports such as tennis or golf swing, you need to use your core and trunk power more than your shoulder or elbow. Thus, perfecting your swing technique decreases the chance of injuries
- If you have trunk or shoulder stiffness, it is hard to show good swing movement. You need to learn how to self-release main muscles using a form roller, a ball and through stretching techniques
- Do conditioning exercise using a Theraband for core, shoulder, elbow and wrist muscles
- When you feel discomfort or tightness, don’t wait until pain increases. Take action as soon as possible. Try to release your tight muscles. If it is not successful by yourself, begin physical therapy treatment.
- Choose the practitioner who specializes in manual therapy treatment
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