Tennis Elbow Massage

A Condition Treated with Neuromuscular Therapy

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Lateral Epicondylitis, or “Tennis Elbow”, is probably diagnosed as the most common source of elbow pain. Strangely enough, only 5 % of people afflicted with this condition are tennis players. This myofascial pain syndrome could easily have been named “Briefcase Elbow”, “Door-handle Elbow” or even, “Dog-walker’s Elbow” because it commonly affects people who routinely perform these daily activities frequently.

Historically, Tennis Elbow has been defined as the inflammation of the tendonous-muscular attachment of the wrist extensor muscles to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus bone. (The lateral epicondyle is the bony landmark on the outside of your arm, just above your elbow when your elbow is in the 90 degree bent position). Typical symptoms include local pain or tenderness to the touch. Sometimes patients also feel weakness in their grip when trying to pick up a gallon of milk.

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Some people diagnosed with Tennis Elbow also find that not only do they have pain at the lateral epicondyle region, but that they may also have pain in the Thenar Eminence (the webbing between their thumb and pointer finger) or down the back of the forearm and into the ring finger and/or toward the back of the thumb base.

With symptoms like these, a client may not have true Tennis Elbow, especially if the pain syndrome has not responded well to classic treatments of rest, ice, corticoid injection, and muscle strengthening exercises. Therefore, it may be that the pain being suffered is a referred pain from a muscular origin.

Stubborn myofascial pain symptoms have been known to originate from trigger points found in the Supinator muscle, the Brachioradialis muscle, the Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus and Brevis muscles, the Extensor Digitorum muscle, the Anconeus muscle and in some cases even the Triceps Brachii muscle. In a few instances even the Scalene muscles of the neck and the Supraspinatus of the rotator cuff may be contributing factors of the elbow pain.

It is important to realize that Tennis Elbow symptoms (with a myofascial pain origin) need to be treated in a method different than traditional modalities.

Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) is a specialized form of massage therapy which has provided effective results in treating Tennis Elbow pain. Tennis Elbow massage focuses on lengthening shortened, tight muscles and fascia. Using NMT massage for tennis elbow is clinical and goal oriented. Patient self-care stretching is also an essential part of the treatment plan. In addition, postural and ergonomic education is given to prevent the condition from returning. This may be as simple as learning a new way to hold a tennis racquet.

If you feel continuous pain in your elbow for more than a week, it is important to see your doctor for a proper diagnosis. There are a few nerve entrapment patterns that mimic Tennis Elbow, and can be only diagnosed and treated by a doctor. Though these nerve problems are rare, they are serious and should be ruled out before starting any therapy plan, even Tennis Elbow massage.

What is most important is that you do not wait to get some form of treatment. If traditional treatment protocols do not provide relief for your elbow pain, give Tennis Elbow massage a try. The longer you wait, the longer it will take to get you pain free.

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