Using physical therapy to treat tennis elbow in Grand Rapids, MI

The muscles in your arms are able to power your arms through a variety of movements for many activities with the assistance of the tendons. The tendons connect your muscles to your bones in the joints, which move when your muscles expand and contract. When you overexert your arm or make repetitive motions with it, inflammation can develop in the tendons known as tendinitis.

Tendinitis is a problem because it is painful and it limits the range of motion in your arm. Tendinitis affects your arms in different ways depending on the tendon that’s irritated. One common form of tendinitis in your arm is tennis elbow.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow (known medically as lateral epicondylitis) is a type of tendinitis that develops along the outside of the elbow where your muscles and joint meet. Despite its common name, tennis elbow affects more than tennis players. It is referred to as tennis elbow because of its common occurrence in tennis players, but it can affect anyone who repeatedly uses their arms and elbows for physical activities.

Tennis elbow can be described as pain and weakness in the forearm along the outside of the elbow. This pain can even extend down into your wrist and make it difficult for you to use your hands for grip. In some cases, tennis elbow can last for a few days. In others, it lasts quite a bit longer.

Treating tennis elbow with physical therapy

Because physical therapists are experts in treating the muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints in your body, they are excellent at treating tennis elbow. At Advent Physical Therapy in Grand Rapids, Michigan, our team is highly experienced in treating many forms of tendinitis, including tennis elbow.

Physical therapy treatments for tennis elbow usually include:

• Therapeutic exercise — Physical therapists use stretches and gentle exercises to improve the strength and flexibility of your forearm muscles and tendons. This helps reduce tennis elbow pain and prevent future tennis elbow from developing.
• Manual therapy — Manual therapy techniques are hands-on techniques that mobilize the tissue and joint to reduce pain and improve the range of motion in your elbow.
• Posture guidance — Poor posture and overexertion during activity causes tennis elbow to develop. Physical therapists can help you improve your posture and give you advice on how frequently to take breaks to rest and stretch to prevent tennis elbow.

Visit Advent Physical Therapy in Grand Rapids, MI, for tennis elbow treatment

Is tennis elbow affecting your ability to remain physically active? Our team in Grand Rapids can help. Contact our team today for more information about tennis elbow treatment or to schedule an initial appointment.