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TENNIS ELBOWWhat is it?In tennis elbow, the muscles of the outer part of the elbow have been presumed to be the primary site of the problem. However, it is well known that this condition can be extremely resistant to conventional treatment, the primary cause of the condition often not being repetitive use of the arm but a chiropractic subluxation in the neck.
If a subluxation is the cause of the pain in your arm, then no amount of cortisone injections, or physical treatment of the elbow will cure the condition.
Chiropractic tennis elbow can only be properly addressed by first treating of the subluxations in the spine that are irritating the spinal nerves serving the elbow muscles. Inflammatory changes have been noted in the acute stages but are absent after a few months which is why steroid injections have no benefit, and in fact have a significant chance of causing infection and tendon rupture. Hence this condition is no longer caused lateral epicondylITIS, but epicondylOSIS. There is no 'itis' or inflammation. Exaggerated Chiropractic Rhetoric???Read what Dr Jennifer Chu, M.D. emeritus professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania has to say:Neck pain - elbow pain - extensor carpi radialis longus Commonly neck pain is due to C5, C6 cervical nerve root irritation. This can produce pain and spasm in the extensor carpi radialis longus muscle which crosses the elbow and therefore pain in the elbow can also be felt by the patient. Extensor carpi radialis longus receives C5 and C6 nerve root fibers through the radial nerve. Together with the brachioradialis and the extensor carpi radialis brevis, it is one of the three muscles that is known as the wad of three. These three muscles can give significant pain in the elbow commonly known as tennis elbow. It originates from the outer aspect (lateral) of the lower one third of the arm bone (humerus). Inserts into the base of the second knuckle (metacarpal bone) on the back of the hand.Its action is to bring the wrist up as in making a fist. It can also deviate the hand away from the midline of the body. Neck pain - elbow pain - extensor carpi radialis brevis Neck pain secondary to C5, C6 nerve cervical root irritation can cause pain and spasm in the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle causing elbow pain. This is one of the three muscles known as the wad of three and together with the triceps, causes the common condition known as tennis elbow. It arises from the arm bone just above the elbow joint in the region called the outer (lateral) epicondyle and inserts into the base of the third knuckle (metacarpal) bone. It lifts the wrist and also deviates the hand away from the trunk. EXAMS AND TESTSThe diagnosis is made by clinical symptoms (pain in the elbow, and often pain or stiffness in the neck and shoulder), four frequently used orthopaedic tests, and often there will be pain or tenderness when the tendon is gently pressed near where it attaches to the upper arm bone, on the outside of the elbow.These elbow tests are based on
SYMPTOMS* Pain and tenderness of the muscles the outer part of elbow.* Possible pain and stiffness in the neck, upper back and shoulder. * Gripping and movements of the wrist hurt, especially wrist extension as in lifting a heavy kettle, and twisting movements as in using a screwdriver and even simple activities such as lifting up a glass of beer or throwing a ball. * Extreme tenderness to touch. Without proper treatment chiropractic tennis elbow is likely to become chronic and very difficult to eradicate. Nip it in the bud! TREATMENT
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