How To Continue Playing Your Favourite Sport After A Tennis Elbow
Damaged muscle tissue can cause the condition known as Tennis Elbow in the muscles that extend when the wrist and fingers are used for any physical activity. Although this condition occurs in 40% of tennis players, it can also occur with any person involved in repetitive manual activities. Tennis Elbow occurs in two stages, chronic and acute both of which cause extreme pain when the wrist is involved in gripping activities or when fingers are extended. In some cases, nerve irritation, tenderness and neck stiffness are also experienced. How is it treated?
Tennis Elbow is treated using cortisone injections but this treatment is not a permanent solution as patients have reported increased pain resurgence after 3 months of treatment. The most effective way to manage the symptoms of Tennis Elbow is by using physiotherapy or athletic therapy. Edmonton athletic therapy has proven to be effective in reducing pain arising from Tennis Elbow.
Exercises
The Tennis elbow injury is caused by physical activity which involves extensive use of your forearms. Weak forearms give in when you perform rigorous physical activity, thus causing injury. The exercises for tennis elbow injury focus on strengthening the forearms and increasing its flexibility so that it is ready for any future hard or repetitive work load.
Here are a few exercises you can work on. Be sure that you have discussed these with your therapist before you begin.
Wrist stretch I
A wrist flex involves stretching your arm straight out, parallel to the ground with the palm facing downwards. Now gently bend your palm down with the help of your wrist and stretch it till you feel a pull in the upper part of your forearm. Hold that position for around 15 seconds and repeat 2-3 times in sets.
Wrist stretch II
This is the complete opposite of the wrist flex 1 exercise, which concentrates on the extensor muscles. Here you have to hold your arm straight out, parallel to the ground with you palm facing upward. Now gently start moving your wrist to bend your palm downwards with the support of your free hand. Stretch it till you can feel a slight pull in your flexor muscle, hold for 15 seconds and repeat 2-3 times in sets.
Wrist exercise
Hold a can of beans or something appropriate of similar weight with your palm in an upward position and elbow in a right angled position. Now gently start pulling your palm towards your body in a curling mechanism. Once fully curled, hold the position for 3-5 seconds and relax.
Physical therapy
The tennis elbow injury heals on its own within a week or two if treatment is started soon after your symptoms are noticed. The longer you wait to begin treatment of this injury the longer it takes to heal. It can also resurface if strenuous activities are started before full recovery.
Other therapies that are used to speed up your recovery process are as follows:
Ultrasound therapy
Patients are subjected to high frequency sound waves which are not audible to humans. The ultrasonic waves are directly injected in the patient’s skin, with maximum absorption taking place in the soft tissue from 2 to 5 cm. The deep heat generated by these waves has been claimed to have blood flow and tissue flexibility increasing effects.
Electrical stimulation
Electrical stimulation also known as Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) involves passage of an electrical current through the electrodes which are placed at the trigger points of affected nerves. The concept behind this treatment is to mask the pain signals that are sent by the brain to the body allowing you to enjoy your sport.
Soft Tissue
Massage by an expert practitioner on the inflamed area can reduce scar tissue formation because of the trauma and usher in a new growth of blood vessels in the damaged area. Be sure to get the message done only by an expert professional to enhance your recovery efforts.
Don’t be dejected if you develop an injury, seek professional help and you will be able to put on those sport shoes in no time.
Kinesio Taping
Another impressive pain management alternative is Kinesio Taping which has found applications across the world. It is a method of applying a specially formulated, elastic tape to the injured or affected area which mimics the body’s movement and provides support to the applied portion.
How does Kinesio Taping help Tennis Elbow?
Kinesio Tape is 40% more elastic than regular athletic tape and moves with your body, therefore, you are not even likely to notice that you are wearing it. It provides superior support to the injured muscle and relieves pain caused due to its movement. Kinesio Tape increases blood flow and improves blood circulation in the body thereby promoting the body’s natural healing processes to aid in the treatment of injuries. For Tennis Elbow, Calgary athletic therapy makes use of specifically cut and measured Kinesio Tape which takes the pressure off of the muscles of the elbow and eases the pain caused when the elbow, wrist or fingers are moved.
Benefits of Kinesio Tape for Tennis Elbow
Calgary Athletic rehab aims to achieve the following in the short-term and long-term management of Tennis Elbow using Kinesio Tape:
- Reduction of elbow pain
- Facilitation of tissue repair
- Restoration of normal joint range of motion and function
- Restoration of normal muscle length, strength and movement patterns
- Normalization of your upper limb neurodynamics
- Normalization of cervical joint function
Edmonton athletic therapy for the treatment can also include gentle mobilization of your neck and elbow joints, electrotherapy, muscle stretches, neural mobilizations, massage and strengthening.
If you are suffering from Tennis Elbow syndrome due to an injury or degenerative conditions of the elbow muscles, seek rehabilitation from a local injury rehab service and avail of the incredible benefits of Kinesio Taping. Say goodbye to elbow pain with the miracle Kinesio Tape.
