Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow Pain: What Comes Next?

Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow Pain: What Comes Next?

In Norwalk, we love our sports. Golf and tennis are time-honored pastimes enjoyed by thousands of people who live and visit here every year.  But it’s not only golf and tennis that can lead to this kind of tendonitis (inflammation of the tendons). 

Symptoms and Causes of Golfer’s & Tennis Elbow

Elbow pain usually brings along a few friends. Often, pain in the elbow can radiate up and down the arm into the neck, shoulder, and wrist.  With tennis and golfer’s elbow tendonitis, the pain is usually on the outside the elbow.

And it’s not just athletes who experience pain at the elbow.  The leading cause of tendonitis is overuse; however, accidents and falls are a close second.  The overuse can be from sports, hobbies, or even jobs that require repetitive movements.  However, there are a few other common reasons for elbow pain, including:

·         Fractures or sprains

·         Bursitis

·         Osteoarthritis

·         Rheumatoid arthritis

·         Trapped nerves

·         Elbow or shoulder dislocation

How a Gonstead Chiropractor Can Help Relieve Elbow Pain

Research shows that people with golfer’s and tennis elbow or other forms of elbow pain often have dysfunction and malalignment in their cervical and/or thoracic spines.  Before looking at your arm, a Gonstead chiropractor will do a thorough exam of your spine.  We’re looking for swelling, redness, warmth on the touch, or apparent bony abnormalities. We need to find where you’re having the most trouble with motion or flexibility.

Once we identify the problem areas, it’s time to put those areas of the spine back in place with targeted adjustments to realign those areas.  Then, we’ll move on to realigning the bones and reestablishing fluid flow in the shoulder, elbow, forearm, and wrist. 

In the beginning, this can be an uncomfortable process, but you should notice improvement rather quickly.  However, as with all elbow pain cases, the number of treatments you’ll need will vary depending on a host of factors like how long you’ve had the pain, how it happened, genetics, diet and lifestyle, etc.  

Managing Elbow Pain Outside the Office

Your body is a machine, so it’s always going to need maintenance and tune-ups, most of which happen outside your chiropractor’s office. Here are a few tips to help you manage elbow pain, whether it’s caused by golf, tennis, or some other factor. 

·         Don’t rush back into strenuous activities. 

·         Ice the painful area for 20 minutes three times a day, especially immediately after treatments or therapy. 

·         Limit movements that cause pain.

·         Use a brace when doing strenuous activity.

·         Listen to your body and trust your instincts.  Don’t make things worse by overworking yourself.

Working with a Gonstead chiropractor for tennis or golfer’s elbow pain may seem strange because many believe we primarily treat issues in the spine, but this is a myth.  We treat all conditions of the musculoskeletal system, and we specialize in the spine.  You’d be amazed at just how much a good spinal adjustment can do for your painful elbow.  Don’t wait. At Slovin Chiropractic Center in Norwalk, we love taking care of joints.  You just need to take the first step.

Sources:

Tennis Elbow Pain Relief by Dr Suh Gonstead Chiropractic

ForeverWell Chiropractic:  4 Causes of Elbow Pain
Mayo Clinic: Causes and Symptoms of Elbow Pain