What is tennis elbow? How to manage tennis elbow by wrist manipulation?

1. 72

   london_guideposted 16 years ago

   What is tennis elbow? How to manage tennis elbow by wrist manipulation?

   replyreport
2. 79

   Lwelchposted 15 years ago

   Tennis elbow is actually a wrist condition.  Pain is felt on the top of the forearm and can radiate into the wrist.  Pain is felt strongly when gripping or lifting.  The cause is often repetitive stress or small motions that you do repeatedly that can injure you little by little over time.   Many people think it is a sports injury but an office set up without strong ergonomics can be to blame.  It is now believed to be a chronic condition.  It used to be thought to be merely inflammation but recent years have shifted to the belief that there is break down of the muscle and tendons at the cellular level.
   
   You asked about treatment with wrist manipulation.  First, there are stretches you can do to help the muscle heal.  Check out http://www.tennis-elbow-treatments.com/ … ercise.php  Be careful though.  The stretches should not hurt.  They should be a gentle tension rather than pain.  You can look at massage to the muscle in your forearm.  Cross fiber (against the grain) massage is good.  Ice massages where you rub ice on the area for about 5 minutes until it has gone numb is also good.
   
   Doctors can prescribe iontophoresis (a way to get medicine just under the skin in a particular area) to help relieve inflammation.  Ultrasound is also used.  Surgery is used as a last resort and often isn't that successful.
   
   I recommend finding a hand therapy clinic.  They will have Occupational Therapists that will work with you and teach you the exercises and etc.  They can also teach you about ergonomics.

   replyreport
3. 60

   mcbeanposted 15 years ago

   Tennis Elbow is famously resistant to treatment. Over the years people have advocated stretching, manipulation, ultrasound, cortisone injections and even surgery. None of these were successful in treating a significant proportion of the population although each has helped in some cases.
   
   Tennis elbow is not a wrist condition as the inflammation is at the common extensor muscle origin at the elbow. These muscles do however move the wrist and fingers.
   
   The latest research has identified eccentric exercises as the most effective treatment, suitable for even stubborn chronic cases. They are very cost effective as with a single piece of exercise equipment costing less than $20 this condition can be treated.
   This new treatment has been reported in the New York Times and is detailled in my hub:
   http://hubpages.com/hub/Tennis-Elbow-Ex … en-to-Work

   replyreport
4. 74

   rmcrayneposted 15 years ago

   I am an Occupational Therapist, recently retired from the Air Force.  I worked very closely with Physical Therapists.  I am aware of what you are referring to.  I read a research article on wrist mobilizations for lateral epicondylitis.  At our facility, we decided to go with elbow mobilizations, which were very effective.  In fact we found that we could get the pain well reduced and controlled in about 3 weeks.  Previously it would take 12 to 16 weeks to get clients to the same point with splints, activity restrictions, ice etc.  We introduced eccentric exercises AFTER the 3 weeks of mobs.  The mobs and eccentrics are not that difficult, but certainly easier to be SHOWN than told.

   replyreport
5. 60

   DatingDragonsposted 15 years ago

   tennis elbow is not a wrist condition.  it is known medically as lateral epicondylitis.  it is caused by repeated wrist extension such as when doing a tennis backhand.  the tendon pulls on its attachment at the elbow and this causes inflammation. 
   
   treatment is rest, ice, physio, a brace.  if this does not work then antiinflammatories and steroid injections may be of assistance.

   replyreport
6. 61

   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 13 years ago

   I like McBean's answer. I might add, as a registered nurse ( my prior occupation before becoming a dog trainer) and as a person who has had "tennis elbow," or lateral epicondylitis, that I found it to be a chronic condition. I got mine by over doing the use of my arm when it was casted following carpal tunnel surgery. The weight of the cast put undue strain on my elbow when I used my casted arm. I obtained some relief from cortisone injections and rest, but found that it flared up if I engaged in any repetitive motion of that joint for a few years following the injury. I have not heard of "wrist manipulation" for tennis elbow - sorry I cannot comment on that.

   replyreport