Our tendons join our muscles to our bones. There are various tendon-related health conditions, which doctors call tendinopathies:
· Tendinitis – Aching, swelling, and functional problems arising from repetitive motion or an injury. Examples include tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow.
· Tendinosis – Degeneration and/or tearing of the tendons.
· Tendon issues stemming from rheumatism and other illnesses.
It’s not unusual to suffer from a tendinopathy, explains medical information site UpToDate, particularly for older people and “people who routinely perform activities that require repetitive movement that increases stress on susceptible tendons.”
How tendinopathy is treated
The primary focus of tendinopathy recovery should be rest, which will allow your swelling to recede. Chiropractic care can also help – in part to discover what other parts of the body may be involved, such as the spine or shoulder.
Understanding elbow tendinopathy
You don’t have to play tennis or golf to get diagnosed with tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. Either one can result from other athletic activities or repetitive motion at work.
The two conditions refer to tendinitis or tendinosis of the elbow tendons:
· Tennis elbow – Technically called lateral epicondylitis, this condition involves damage to the joint’s outer tendon.
· Golfer’s elbow – Technically called medial epicondylitis, this condition involves damage to its inner tendon.
How to prevent tennis elbow & golfer’s elbow
So you don’t strain your arm and experience tendinopathy, use these tactics:
· Stop to rest regularly when performing tasks that rely on strenuous hand activity.
· Keep your arms bent whenever lifting.
· Don’t grip objects as intensely or as often.
· Generally keep your arm out of the straight and completely bent positions, instead keeping it in between.
· Wear wrist braces when lifting weights.
· Make it easier to grasp tools with gloves or other fabric. Choose hammers that have additional cushioning. Use both hands as necessary to avoid overexertion.
· In tennis, switch your backhand technique to use both hands. Incorporate your entire body, from your legs through your back, when taking a shot. Tweak your form to alleviate stress on the elbow. Consider the thickness of your racket handle; string material and tension; modified swings; and adjusted ways to handle the racket when performing modified swings. The basic rules of thumb are to reduce the tension of the strings; increase the weight of the racket until it influences your stroke; increase the size of the handle; and switch the strings to a softer material.
· In golf, add grasping protection to your clubs with tape or additional cushioning.
How chiropractic care can help
A subluxation, a verbal misalignment in the spine, can add tension to nerves and overstretch them. Often these spinal alignment issues interfere with nerve communication, making you more vulnerable to problems elsewhere in the body – such as the elbow.
Chiropractors can help with a combination of in-office physical manipulations and at-home exercises. Check out our new patient offer now!
