Tennis elbow is a fairly common condition, and accounts for two-thirds of the cases of chronic elbow pain. While its nickname is tied to a specific sport, the condition — known clinically as lateral epicondylitis — is the result of overuse or repetitive motion of the wrist or arm.
It isn’t a condition that discriminates between men and women, but its onset is most common between the ages of 35 and 54. With the recent rise in popularity of pickleball, tennis elbow is earning a new nickname among those players — pickleball elbow — but it is the same condition.
But, anyone with a profession that involves repetitive motion can find themselves living with the chronic pain and discomfort that comes with tennis elbow. The pain associated with tennis elbow can run down a person’s entire forearm and radiate throughout the wrist, and when it is severe, it can impact daily activities.
In fact, it can become difficult to hold everyday items, such as a phone or water bottle, because of the pain.
As common as tennis elbow is, it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose. Most conventional doctors will use an MRI to understand the severity of the condition and determine if surgery, after a period of prolonged rest, is needed to treat it.
A conventional approach to treatment generally takes a prolonged time period, could involve surgery and could cause more damage over time. At Ethos Integrative Medicine, we take a different approach.
Dr. Matthew Hernandez, a co-owner at Ethos who specializes in athletic care, discussed tennis elbow and its potential treatments, in an informative webinar. He explained that tennis elbow is the result of a tendon injury that doesn’t properly repair itself, likely due to repetitive use without a proper rehabilitation period.
As an integrative medicine practice, Ethos we first try to understand the patient’s goals as it relates to recovery. With a 96% success rate, tied to an absence of pain, return to activity and restored function, we take pride in the way we approach treatment for epicondylitis and elbow pain.
An ultrasound allows our naturopathic physicians to understand the severity of the condition, we analyze skeletal symmetry to understand where limitations may exist, we evaluate a patient’s neuromuscular system for deficits or inflammation, and we determine the best therapeutic approach from there.
And all of it is done within about a week, which is a stark contrast from conventional treatment.
Perhaps some of the most intriguing approaches to treatment, in addition to physical therapy, is our use of regenerative therapy. This type of therapy effectively uses biology to encourage the body to heal itself in an organic way, essentially helping the body do what it knows how to do — but in a faster, more robust way.
Put simply, there is no one way to treat tennis elbow or epicondylitis. At Ethos, we explore the best options available and get patients on the road to recovery, quicker.
At Ethos Integrative Medicine in Scottsdale, our team of specialists takes a novel approach to healthcare to achieve the results patients deserve. Learn more about our team at https://ethosscottsdale.com/.
Interested in how we can help you? Get your questions answered by scheduling an introductory call.
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