Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a form of tendinitis which causes pain to a person’s elbow and arm. Tennis elbow is a painful affliction that stems from the overuse of a person’s elbow. Lateral epicondylitis is frequently found in athletes who play tennis or racquet sports, but you can also be at risk from other sports or activities such as weight lifting, typing, and painting.
With lateral epicondylitis, tendons which connect the forearm muscles to the outside elbow become inflamed and damaged from repetitive movements causing pain and tenderness to the area. When tennis elbow is treated by an acupuncturist, they will use acupuncture points to heal the inflammation within the tendons.
Acupuncture has proven to help those suffering from lateral epicondylitis to relieve their pain through Traditional Chinese Medicine. According to a study from the Science and Experiment Center of Guangzhou Physical Education Institute, acupuncture improved lateral epicondylitis among athletes who received acupuncture treatment.
Some of the acupuncture points which are used include tendo-muscular junctions in addition to the muscles, flexors, and extensors of the forearm. The acupuncture points in the shoulder may be used during treatment because of the connecting tissue between the shoulder and forearm which may have also been damaged from overuse. A form of acupuncture called dry needling is often used for lateral epicondylitis to help the tendon to heal faster as it causes intramuscular stimulation which speeds up the healing process.
Do you have lateral epicondylitis? Do you need help with pain and treatment? Schedule a FREE consultation with one of our providers and we can get you started on a treatment plan best suited for you.