One
of the most common elbow problems is tendonitis. This condition is due
to inflammation. Sometimes called tennis elbow, this painful condition
can occur when a tendon that attaches to the elbow joint becomes
irritated, either from injury or from overuse. Other common elbow
problems include arthritis and problems from the wrist or the shoulder,
which cause referred pain to the elbow.
The
elbow
joint works best when the arm motion is straight up and down. Rotation
and side to side movements are less tolerated. Too much stress in these
directions can irritate the elbow tendons and cause a tendonitis
condition. Repeated vibration forces under weight bearing can also
cause joint irritation. Commonly played sports that can cause this
condition are tennis, other racket sports, and to a lesser degree golf.
Continued irritation of the elbow tendons can lead to calcific
tendonitis, which is a type of arthritis.
Elbow
injuries or chronic elbow problems from overuse can affect more than
just the elbow joint. Elbow problems can adversely affect grip strength
too. Even shaking hands can be painful. Elbow pain can extend up to the
shoulder and down to the wrist. Many elbow problems caused by
inflammation to the tendons will also worsen with turning forces; In
fact, a common way to acquire or to worsen tennis elbow (also known as
lateral epicondylitis) is to perform repetitive screwdriver-like
activities with the sore arm.
Frequent
application of ice
packs usually works well to reduce inflammation around the elbow joint.
Care must be taken when using ice, since the lack of tissue makes the
elbow vulnerable to frostbite (cold damage.) For this reason, it is
best to limit the time an ice bag is on to 10-minutes or less and not
to reapply the ice until 10-15 minutes after removal. It is important
to be especially careful and protect the sides of the elbow.
Your
chiropractor can also examine your elbow to help determine the nature
of the condition. Diagnostic tools such as x-rays may reveal early
calcification of the tendons around the joint, which may be one reason
why the problem keeps recurring. With proper therapy such as joint
manipulation, ultrasound (which can help reduce inflammation and
breakdown calcified deposits) and other therapeutic measures, your
condition may be markedly improved.
Other
treatments for
elbow problems include protective bracing and nutritional supplements
like bromelain (an enzyme helpful in reducing inflammation and found in
pineapples.) Your Doctor of Chiropractic can help you get a correctly
sized and fitted elbow support as well as recommend the correct
nutritional supplements to help your elbow condition.