Tennis elbow, so named because it is a common injury to athletes participating in racquet sports, is in fact a repetitive strain injury that can affect even non-athletes. It typically manifests as pain at or just below the elbow, and is a form of severe tendonitis affecting the muscle that runs from the humerus to the wrist. Its medical name is lateral epicondylitis.
Therapy Goal
The aim of tennis elbow therapy is to reduce the buildup of scar tissue, which can lead to the muscle healing poorly and induce a cycle of injury and healing that never fully leads to recovery. There is some debate about how effective aggressive medical treatments are when compared to traditional therapies of rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Some sufferers have reported benefits to using non-steroidal anti-inflamatories to reduce pain, especially in the first two weeks after the onset of tennis elbow.
Traditional Ultrasound
Traditional ultrasound therapy uses high-frequency sound waves to simulate deep heat therapy. Ultrasound increases blood flow and oxygen to the affected area by raising the temperature of the muscles. Clinical studies show it has limited effectiveness in reducing the disability caused by tennis elbow (see resources). However, when ultrasound is combined with physical therapy such as massage and strengthening and stretching exercises, its effectiveness increases. However, over the long term, this is no better than simply resting the affected area until it heals.
New Ultrasound Therapy
A new ultrasound therapy that is showing some promising results uses ultrasound to help guide a needle to the injured area, then uses the needle to break up scar tissue and create tiny holes in the injured area for collagen to build up. In a clinical study, 65 percent showed improvement, while 35 percent showed no change (see resources). This procedure takes about an hour, and has a recovery time of six weeks, with no activity recommended for the first two weeks, then physical therapy for four weeks.
Tags: affected area, first weeks, injured area, percent showed, physical therapy, scar tissue
