What is tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow?
Tennis elbow is medically known as lateral epicondylitis and golfer’s elbow as medial epicondylitis, with both medical definitions referring to the location of the site of inflammation in the tendons.
As a result of repetitive use, tendon attachments on the epicondyle of the humerus bone are less likely to repair because, being tendons, they have less oxygenated blood supply than muscles and therefore have a poorer prognosis.
Both conditions are degenerative processes where injury occurs deep within the tendons. The degenerative cascade results in long term (chronic) pain either on the inside or outside of the elbow.
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How do you know if you have tennis or golfer’s elbow?
The common names, tennis or golfer’s, usefully describe actions that may inflame the tendons, although you don’t necessarily have to play either of those games to experience these conditions. People have a wide variety of tasks in their lives and either of these conditions can occur as a result of various repetitive actions.
The site of pain is just above the elbow, either on the inside or outside, and can be felt as a dull ache when at rest or a sharper pain, especially when the hand is gripping or the arm is actively engaged in certain wrist movements. You may also have tenderness or swelling in your elbow or have difficulty straightening your arm.
What is the best way to fix a tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow?
The most common method suggested is “RICE” – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation – but who has time to effectively carry out these methods in today’s busy modern world? K-Laser treatment works with the body’s own natural biochemical responses and increases blood flow to hasten recovery.
People ask:
“will tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow go away on its own?”
Well yes, potentially, but the NHS website suggests that symptoms can sometimes last well over a year… K-Laser seeks to reduce that timeframe significantly in 6-12 treatments in around one or two months.
The K-Laser company has conducted clinical research in this area regarding low level laser therapy’s effectiveness for tendon issues – should the reader want to delve deeper, you can access the research here.