"Tennis Elbow" is not necessarily caused by playing tennis
Causes, Symptoms, and Chinese Medicine Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis
Persistent pain on the outside of your elbow, weakness when clenching your fist, and even difficulty holding a cup? You might be suffering from tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). This condition is not exclusive to athletes; repetitive movements in daily work can also trigger it. Below, we will explain in detail the causes, clinical manifestations, real case studies, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment options for tennis elbow.
⚡ Quick understanding: What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow (medical term: lateral epicondylitis) is a common pain condition caused by frequent overuse or incorrect use of the forearm, leading to damage at the origin of the wrist extensor muscles and resulting in pain in the outer elbow joint. It is common among those who use computers for long periods, work in printing or cleaning, or play racket sports. TCM can treat it through manual therapy, acupuncture, and Chinese herbal medicine.
1. Causes of Tennis Elbow
"Lateral epicondylitis" is caused by frequent overuse or incorrect use of the forearm, leading to damage at the origin of the wrist extensor muscles and resulting in pain in the outer elbow joint, commonly known as "tennis elbow."
Since many forearm muscles attach to the radial head and lateral epicondyle, excessive use of the forearm muscles can cause them to become tight and stiff, losing their elasticity. When the wrist moves, it pulls and rubs against the outer elbow, causing fascial inflammation. In severe cases, it can lead to periosteal inflammation, or even periosteal tears, which are then difficult to heal.
Acute Injury vs. Chronic Strain
🔸 Acute Injury
Sudden forceful flexion or traction of the wrist causes damage to the origin of the wrist extensor muscle group.
🔹 Chronic Strain
Frequent or prolonged wrist extension activities lead to chronic cumulative damage at the origin of the wrist extensor muscles.
High-Risk Groups
This condition is mostly caused by occupational diseases and is common among people working in printing, cleaning, and computer-related industries. Many office workers frequently type on computers, and if they don't rest their elbows on the desk but keep them suspended, it causes their forearm muscles to become tense and painful. Playing racket sports like table tennis, badminton, and tennis can also lead to this condition.
💡 Key Point: "Tennis elbow" is not necessarily caused by playing tennis; any activity that requires repetitive use of forearm and wrist strength can trigger this condition.
2. Clinical Manifestations and Symptoms
This condition mostly affects adult patients, often due to improper force leading to limited forearm rotation. The main clinical manifestations include:
✦ Persistent pain on the outside of the elbow
✦ Pain and weakness when clenching a fist (e.g., holding a cup, wringing a towel, or sweeping)
✦ Limited forearm rotation
✦ Generally no obvious pain when at rest
If you experience these symptoms during daily activities, it is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible to prevent the condition from worsening to a periosteal tear.
3. Real Case Studies
Case One: Jewelry Shop Owner — An Occupational Disease from Handling Gold
A jewelry business owner came for a consultation, puzzled: "I don't exercise regularly, I rarely type on a computer, and I seldom write. So why does my elbow hurt? It hurts when I clench my fist, and even when I pick up a piece of paper, it hurts. Why?"
It turned out that because this owner worked in jewelry sales, constantly handling gold and diamonds, the repeated actions led to an occupational disease, causing chronic strain in the elbow and resulting in "tennis elbow."
Case Two: A Lady Who Constantly Hits the Affected Area — Improper Care Delays Recovery
A lady came for a consultation, with her lateral epicondyle already enlarged, swollen, and stiff. She said, "I've seen every doctor, spent over a hundred thousand dollars, but it never seems to heal. The doctor once injected steroids, but unfortunately, it recurred a few months later. It has recurred several times over three or four years, and it's still not healed."
It turned out that the patient would constantly hit the painful area on her elbow every day, but this only stimulated the periosteum, leading to continuous inflammation. By constantly injuring the affected area, she was essentially giving it no time to rest and repair.
Case Three: A Tennis Enthusiast — The Trouble with a New Racket
A patient who loves playing tennis had played for years without any issues. However, after switching to a new racket, he wasn't accustomed to it, causing him to overuse his forearm and grip the racket too tightly, leading to pain.
Additionally, his elbow would hurt significantly after each match, which was due to overtraining before the matches, leading to excessive fatigue and strain in his elbow.
4. Chinese Medicine Treatment Methods
🤲
Manual Therapy
Relaxes tired forearm muscles, straightens meridians, restores elasticity, and improves issues of pulling and rubbing on the outer elbow.
📍
Acupuncture Treatment
Acupoints include ashi points (tender points), Chize (LU5), Yangxi (LI5), Quchi (LI11), and Shousanli (LI10). Multiple needles are inserted around the affected area to contract the periosteum, relieve pain, and reduce swelling.
🌿
Chinese Herbal Medicine
External application of pain-relieving liniments and internal consumption of blood-invigorating and stasis-removing pain-relieving pills. This combines internal and external treatment to fundamentally improve inflammation and promote healing.
5. Daily Care and Tips
⚠️ Pay attention when applying ointment
Currently, Western doctors mostly prescribe ointments for patients to apply at home. However, improper application methods can damage the periosteum and cause inflammation. It is advised to apply ointment gently and avoid rubbing vigorously.
✅ Daily Care Recommendations
🔸 Hot compress the affected area: This condition is inflammatory, so frequent hot compresses with a hot towel on the affected area are beneficial. This helps dilate blood vessels, promote blood circulation, and reduce inflammation.
🔸 Dietary restrictions: Avoid shrimp, crab, beef, alcohol, spicy, and irritating foods.
🔸 Sufficient rest: Temporarily cease activities involving the affected limb to allow the area adequate rest and recovery time.
🔸 Improve posture: When working, elbows should be placed on the desk or armrests to provide support for the forearm, effectively relaxing forearm muscles and reducing strain.
🔸 Stretching exercises: Frequently stretch and bend the arm to relax tendons and maintain forearm muscle elasticity.
6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the main causes of tennis elbow?
The main cause of tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is frequent overuse or incorrect use of the forearm, which damages the origin of the wrist extensor muscles, leading to pain in the outer elbow joint. It is common among those who use computers for long periods, work in printing or cleaning, or play racket sports. Both acute injuries and chronic strains can trigger this condition.
Can you get tennis elbow without playing tennis?
Yes. Tennis elbow is not exclusively caused by playing tennis. Any activity that requires repetitive use of the forearm and wrist strength, including computer typing, cleaning, carrying objects, or working in jewelry sales, can lead to tennis elbow. This condition is often considered an occupational disease.
What are the typical symptoms of tennis elbow?
Typical symptoms of tennis elbow include pain on the outside of the elbow, pain and weakness when clenching a fist (e.g., when holding a cup, wringing a towel, or sweeping), and limited forearm rotation. Patients generally experience no obvious pain when at rest.
How does Traditional Chinese Medicine treat tennis elbow?
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) primarily employs three methods to treat tennis elbow: 1. Manual therapy to relax forearm muscles, straighten meridians, and restore elasticity; 2. Acupuncture treatment, targeting ashi points, Chize (LU5), Yangxi (LI5), Quchi (LI11), and Shousanli (LI10) with multiple needles around the affected area to contract the periosteum, relieve pain, and reduce swelling; 3. Chinese herbal medicine, involving external application of pain-relieving liniments and internal consumption of blood-invigorating and stasis-removing pain-relieving pills.
What should tennis elbow patients pay attention to in their daily lives?
Patients should cease activities involving the affected limb, get plenty of rest, and use hot compresses on the affected area to promote blood circulation. When working, elbows should be placed on the desk or armrests to prevent the forearm from being suspended. Diet-wise, avoid shrimp, crab, beef, alcohol, and spicy foods. When applying ointment, do so gently to avoid damaging the periosteum. Do not constantly hit or press the painful area.
What happens if tennis elbow becomes severe?
If tennis elbow is not treated in time, fascial inflammation can develop into periosteal inflammation, and in severe cases, even periosteal tears, which will then be difficult to heal. Therefore, patients are advised to seek medical attention as early as possible at the onset of symptoms and not delay treatment.
Is elbow pain affecting your daily life?
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