How to Treat Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is a painful affliction that affects the tendons in the elbow joint. It can be caused by overuse of the arm, commonly your dominant arm. The damage is focused around the muscles and tendons outside of the elbow joint, causes noticeable pain, and can limit your range of motion. Despite the name you don’t have to play tennis to get tennis elbow. Many other athletes and people who work with their hands can get this ailment. When looking at how to treat tennis elbow there are a multitude of at home and professional options.

How to Treat Tennis Elbow: At Home

When looking at how to treat tennis elbow you’ll soon discover there are several at home methods you can use to alleviate your pain. These methods should seem very familiar if you've ever had any muscle injuries in the past. Basic at home treatment methods include the following.

• Rest The Joint. As with other muscle injuries you should avoid straining the elbow. This means taking it easy, avoiding strenuous activities, and avoiding the activities causing pain.
• Use Ice. Ice is a commonly used method of treating muscle and joint injuries. If your tennis elbow is hurting ice it for 20 minutes a day.
• Take Anti-Inflammatory Medication. Common over the counter medication such as ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen can help reduce pain symptoms as you recover.
• Wear A Brace. An elbow brace can help limit movement which can reduce aggravation to your existing injury.

Depending on the severity of your injury however, at home treatment may not be enough to treat your condition. If you find your tennis elbow is not recovering, you have numbness in your hand, or the pain is too severe, contacting a professional for treatment is the next step.

How to Treat Tennis Elbow: Professional Assistance

When going to a professional you have a greater range of treatment options available. Professional treatment options include the following options.

• Physical Therapy. Aprofessional can easily prescribe physical therapy which reduce pain, increase flexibility, and assist in the healing process.
• Massage Therapy. This therapycan prove very effective in treating joint related injuries. With tennis elbow you not only have your elbow to worry about but also all the other muscles in your arm. With massage therapy you can easily relieve pain and loosen muscles that have been affected by your tennis elbow.
• Acupuncture. An ancient treatment acupuncture is effective treatment for a multitude of conditions. It has proved to be promising treatment for reducing pain and assisting in the treatment of tennis elbow.

Treatments will vary based on your condition as always listen to your doctor or a trained medical professional.

When to Go To a Professional

If you find your pain is not going away, your tennis elbow is not healing, your day to day life is severely limited, or you’re developing numbness in your hands then professional help should be sought out immediately. Give us a call at Chiro-Med Rehab Centre today and let us help to repair your tennis elbow.