How to cure elbow pain, tennis elbow……
The elbow joint is a crucial element for normal, everyday functionality of the arm. Anatomically, it connects the arm to the bones of the forearm.
Its structure defines it as a compound joint that consists of three bones: the humerus of the arm, the ulna and radius of the forearm. Asides from the bones, the joint also consists of ligaments, tendons and bursas. Due to great activity of the elbow joint during everyday activities or in certain professions, pain on the exterior or interior side of the elbow joint is a frequent occurrence.
One of the most common elbow pain causes is the elbow overuse syndrome, which manifests as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow , depending on the location of injury. To prevent or cure elbow pain, one has to consult expert medical professionals.
Elbow pain – stages and types of injury
Depending on the stage, foot and ankle joint pain can be in:
- The acute phase
- The subacute phase
- The chronic phase
Elbow pain can occur as a consequence of:
- Injuries to muscles, tendons or ligaments
- Injuries to the joint capsule
- Injuries to the bone tissue
Most common injuries/conditions of the elbow joint that can cause elbow pain:
- Elbow distortion
- Elbow fracture
- Elbow tendonitis
- Elbow bursitis
- Elbow rupture
- Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow (tennis elbow)
- Medial epicondylitis of the elbow (golfer’s elbow)
- Elbow arthritis
Diagnostic procedure for elbow joint injuries and for determining the causes of pain so as to successfully eliminate it:
Evaluation (assessment) of the elbow pain condition
An individual examination performed by a doctor and chartered physiotherapist aimed at determining the cause of the affliction. By applying specialised diagnostic procedures along with anthropometric measurements (range of motion, extremities reach, MMT), we can determine the cause of pain. The goal of the assessment is to reach a medical and physiotherapy diagnosis.
Physiotherapy diagnosis is a thorough report made by a specialist of physiotherapy with a detailed description determined through a previous evaluation.
An individual treatment and rehabilitation plan is created after formulating a diagnosis, depending on the type and degree of injury. The application of machine techniques alongside manual techniques ensures a full scope of rehabilitation aimed at maximising the effect of treatment.
Treatment plan and programme
Any injury or painful condition is treated individually. Treatment plans can depend on the time and cause of the condition.
In the acute stage with elbow pain and swelling, a wide spectrum of machine techniques is applied, like High intensity laser treatment (HILT), interference current, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and Tecar machines. Specially designed pain relievment therapy through these machines has proven itself effective in alleviating pain in acute stages.
During the subacute and chronic stages, when pain is not in the forefront but there still exists a functional impediment of the elbow joint , the main goal is to restore joint functionality through applying various manual techniques along with kinetic therapy and shock wave treatment. One of the more significant manual techniques is the Mulligan concept , applied individually and often alongside kinetic taping and neuromuscular kinetic taping , by our certified chartered physiotherapist. Shockwave treatment is the most effective method of removing calcification, which is the chief issue in chronic afflictions of the shoulder joint.
