TENNIS ELBOW

Common causes of elbow pain

Elbow pain occurs when there is an over usage of the forearm muscles. Apart from over usage, abrupt movements against resistance such as breaking a fall may also cause injury to the elbow. Physically demanding jobs, various sports and intricate hobbies that require repetitive motions put you at risk for inner elbow pain. The most common types of elbow pain is known as “Tennis elbow”.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis Elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis, is a pain condition caused by overuse or repetitive movements of the arm and wrist. The tennis elbow pain is usually felt in the tendons of the forearm muscles, in the forearm and the wrist. A tennis elbow makes it difficult for a person to straighten the arm, do work, take part in sports, and can be very distressing.

This condition can be experienced by anyone who uses these muscles on a regular basis. Those who work in occupations that require regular repetitive movements of the arms such as chefs, carpenters and plumbers are more susceptible to developing this condition. Additionally, Tennis elbow is a condition common in those aged between 30 and 50 years old.

Common symptoms of Tennis elbow include:

• Pain spreading down the arm to the wrists.
• Pain or tenderness on the outer forearm.
• Pain when extending the arm fully.
• Difficultly grasping objects due to a weak grip.

 Acupuncture + moxibustion for tennis elbow

Acupuncture is a proven and effective therapeutic method for the alleviation of tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). Acupuncture and moxibustion work remarkably well and quickly with tennis elbow. Clinical studies have shown that acupuncture significantly improves elbow function. 

A typical acupuncture treatment involves needles inserted along the forearm, elbow, wrist, and possibly the legs and feet. Points will vary because each treatment is unique. After being left to rest for 20-30 minutes, acupuncture is usually followed by moxibustion over the outside of the elbow (lateral epicondyle). Moxibustion (or moxa) is a type of heat therapy that uses the herb mugwort to warm an area and help relieve pain and inflammation. This is followed by soft tissue release of the forearm muscles.  If you want to know how to relieve the pain of tennis elbow, please refer to the articles “ An Amazing Acupoints to Help Relieve Tennis Elbow Quickly“. 

Elbow pain treatment at Shanghai Medical Clinic

While home remedies such as cold or warm compresses may help to alleviate the pain temporarily, it is best to seek professional help for an accurate diagnosis. At Shanghai Medical Clinic, our advanced evidence-based assessment and intervention are a more in-depth treatment as compared to home remedies.

Our team, led by Dr. Wang Xiaozhong, a certified Chinese medicine physician with extensive experience in pain management, strives to deliver the most accurate and cost-effective elbow pain treatment in Dubai, UAE.