Elbow Pain?
Is your elbow getting the best of you? If so, you could have golfer and tennis elbow, also known as lateral and medial epicondylitis. It’s a painful condition which affects the tendons on either side of the elbow and extends down into the forearm. As a result, everyday activities begin to seem more like mission impossible.
You don’t have to play golf or tennis to suffer from the condition however. Just about anyone who repeatedly moves their elbow is prone which is why pt Health offers specific golfer and tennis therapy. Using guided physiotherapy techniques, our therapists take over where injections and medication can’t touch – strengthening and conditioning exercises geared toward getting your full range back.
pt Health’s Tennis and Golfers Elbow Treatment
When you suffer from golfer and tennis elbow, you may feel like throwing in the towel. However, targeted physiotherapy treatment can relieve symptoms in as little time as four to six weeks. Now, while your elbow is busy regaining its composure, you can look forward to getting your life back whether it’s on the golf course, tennis courts, or regular activities.
Our Treatment Plan:
- Does not involve medication or painkillers.
- Actively involves you in your own recovery.
- Is covered by most provincial insurance and extended health plans.
- Starts quickly, with next day appointment availability.
GOLF & TENNIS ELBOW SYMPTOMS
- Inflammation directly over the bony prominent or periosteum
- Local pain which extends into the forearm
- Pain during handshakes and lifting
- Sudden or gradual pain that spreads down forearm
GOLF & TENNIS ELBOW REHAB
- Provides effective treatments designed to relieve and ease golf and tennis elbow pain
- Offers preventative strategies to help you deal with lifestyle, work, and other risk factors
- Addresses the root cause of tennis and golfer Elbow pain as well as the symptoms
- Prescribes appropriate stretches, strengthening exercises, and movements that you can do at home to encourage continuous improvement and progress
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Treatment Plan
The pain may start out as subtle, but make no mistake Golfer and Tennis Elbow will soon become a chronic condition if left untreated. The first sign of trouble usually starts out as gradual irritation in and around the elbow. Soon, you may notice a flare up while playing tennis, golf, or using your arms as a hairdresser, mechanic, construction worker, or someone who is constantly at the computer. Finally, the condition becomes painful all the time, even if your elbow is at rest.
Assess Your Condition
When you visit pt Health for elbow pain, your therapist will conduct an initial assessment where they observe the elbow muscle, forearm, and wrist mechanics.
Next, they will test your range of motion in both the wrist and elbow. Specific tests including diagnostic resistance will also be performed which measure grip strength.
Once complete, your therapist will also want to rule out nerve compression within the radial nerve while testing upper limb nerves.
We often hear questions surrounding golfer and tennis elbow. Is it tendonitis, ligament strain, muscle weakness? And the answer is none of these. It’s actually a form of tedinopathy caused by repetitive arm bending. The result is inflammation of the tendons on either side of the elbow which affects the wrist extensor mechanics, muscles, tendons and attachment to bone. Additionally, there is a distinct difference between the two in that they affect opposing sides of the elbow.
Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow includes lateral pain affecting the wrist and finger extensors.
Golfer’s Elbow
Causes medial pain inside the elbow and affects the wrist flexor muscle as they attach to the medial epicondyle.
Once treatment starts, your therapist may consider an exercise program along with anti-inflammatory modalities. Typically an exercise program will focus on strengthening, stretching, manual therapy, ultrasound, and acupuncture if there is nerve involvement.
Mike’s story
Mike, age 50, recently visited pt Health complaining of lateral elbow pain.
“Originally I went to my family doctor who diagnosed me with tennis elbow, which was weird because I don’t play tennis” said Mike. But Mike soon learned he didn’t have to play the sport in order to be diagnosed with the condition. More likely, the cause of Mike’s pain was work related because of the constant elbow bending he did as a mechanic. Little did Mike know, he might soon need some repairs of his own.
Originally Mike’s doctor recommended an elbow strap meant to compress the elbow tendon and relieve pain. But after wearing the band for a brief period without relief, he was soon referred to a physiotherapist at pt Health.
“When Mike arrived, I assessed his range of motion, strength, and signs of nerve damage,” his therapist said. Satisfied the pain was limited to the lateral side of the elbow, and didn’t affect his radial nerve, he confirmed the diagnosis of tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis.
After only four weeks of treatment which included ultrasound therapy and strengthening, Mike began to see signs of improvement. His strength was back and he could bend his elbow and flex his wrist without the same degree of pain. “It used to be I couldn’t even bend my wrist back, or lift heavy objects before the pain set in,” said Mike.
Six weeks later, Mike is feeling more like himself. “I still have the wrist brace which gives me added support, but overall I feel like I have been cured!”
Coverage Options
At pt Health, we know that sorting out insurance paperwork can be time-consuming and confusing. We want your focus to be on getting well and staying well. With that in mind, we do our best to help you navigate through the necessary forms. We speak with your insurance providers and we’ll answer any questions you may have about your coverage.
- RCMP
- DND
- Canadian Forces
- Veterans Affairs
For any treatments that are only partially covered, you may be asked to co-pay the difference at each visit.