Have tennis elbow or golfer's elbow?

Though elbow pain is common in athletes - and we do see our fair share of tennis players, golfers, pickleball players, and lawn bowlers - it is also common in those that perform repetitive tasks, such as avid gardeners. Tennis elbow refers to the inflammation of the tendons where they attach on the lateral (thumb side) of the elbow, whereas golfer’s elbow refers to the tendons on the medial (pinky side) of the elbow. They are also known as lateral epicondylitis and medial epicondylitis, respectively. The pain can vary from a burning sensation at the elbow to shooting pains down the forearm. When impacted, lifting minor objects, even as light as a coffee cup, can cause severe pain.

Other common symptoms include:

• ​Tenderness on the lateral or medial side of the elbow
• Pain when opening the hand (tennis elbow) or pain when making a fist (golfer’s elbow)
• ​Difficulty holding, pinching, or gripping objects

When addressing tennis or golfer’s elbow, it is important to also assess the affected muscles in the forearm - which are often tight - in addition to the tendons themselves. Affected muscles often have become shortened/ tightened with overuse, and therefore put increased strain on the tendons and compound the pain.

ACUPUNCTURE FOR ELBOW PAIN
Typical treatments for elbow pain include over-the-counter pain relievers and cortisone injections, however acupuncture is commonly used as an effective, minimally invasive treatment to restore pain-free movement. There are several acupuncture techniques that may be used when treating elbow injuries, depending on each individual case. All of the techniques however, stimulate healing by bringing oxygenated blood to the injured area to flush out toxins and lactic acid, and to reduce inflammation. The techniques include:

• Electroacupuncture: with acupuncture needles inserted at targeted areas of your elbow and forearm, a device is connected to the needles to deliver an electrical pulse. The stimulation relaxes the muscles, increases blood flow, and stimulates endogenous opioid endorphins, the body’s natural pain-relieving chemicals.
• Motor point acupuncture: motor points are specific locations in the muscles where the motor nerve can be easily stimulated. When an acupuncture needle is used on a motor point with an electric impulse, it creates a contraction and relaxation which releases tight contracted bands of muscle. This is like hitting a muscle reset button which provides pain relief and improved muscle contractibility and mobility.
• Gua Sha is a type of friction massage that is used to stimulate circulation of oxygenated blood, remove scar tissue, and increase collagen production to promote healing.
• Moxibustion involves external use of the herb mugwort (also known as moxa), which facilitates healing by reducing inflammation and increasing blood circulation.​

​We see elbow pain regularly in our clinic - both acute and chronic cases. The number of treatments needed varies with each person, however fewer treatments are typically required if the injury has just recently occurred. On average, patients with elbow injuries receive six treatments over three weeks. Treatment plans vary depending on the severity of the injury and individual response to acupuncture. To reduce the chance of injury:

• Avoid repetitive tasks involving your arms and heavy lifting for extended periods
• Be mindful of tension in your forearm muscles over a prolonged duration of time
• Regularly stretch your forearms and hands to improve circulation