Can acupuncture help with tennis or golfer’s elbow?
Yes, the answer is yes, yes and yes. It’s been clinically proven in both research studies as well as practical reporting of acupuncturists (like me).
Tennis, or golfer’s elbow, is usually caused by repetitive movements which don't have to be related to golf or tennis. I’ve met baristas, postal workers and gardeners with sore elbows. However, there does seem to be an uptick in cases during the warmer months as people add hobbies (such as golf & tennis) to their normal daily strain. Given that we’re heading into this season I figured I’d address the topic and give a few things you can do at home that I’ve seen help.
First though, a little theory. Tennis elbow is a term used to describe an inflammation of the outer elbow, or lateral epicondyle. The muscles affected are those that bend your wrist backward and straighten your fingers. Golfer’s elbow is an inflammation of the medial epicondyle, or the inner side of your elbow. These are the muscles that flex your wrist and close your fingers into a fist.
For an acupuncturist, we diagnose based on pathways called meridians. What that means is we figure out which pathway is blocked and then treat that blockage. Sort of like a traffic reporter finding out which roads have accidents and then rerouting traffic to prevent backup.
How do we do that? It will vary depending on your acupuncturist. In my clinic, I’ve noticed that a huge percentage of people with elbow issues also have neck and shoulder tension. Often in addition to acupuncture I’ll incorporate cupping and tuina (acupuncture massage) to release the neck and shoulder area. If the patient also has stress that causes neck/shoulder tension I’ll make sure to treat the stress as well. Because stress may not be the cause of the problem, but it certainly doesn’t help with anything.
How many treatments a person needs will vary depending on the severity of the symptoms, how long the person has had the issue, their general health and their job &/or hobbies. Some things that can speed the process along are:
Wear a gentle wrist guard at night. If you don’t want to get one of the fancy contraptions, a lightly wrapped ace bandage will do. Often when we sleep we curl our hands up, causing the muscles to have to contract. By wearing something to prevent the unintentional curl, we’re giving our wrists a much needed break while we sleep. The patients who’ve done this recover much faster than those who don’t.
Stretch often. Make sure that you take time each hour to stand up straight, gently roll your shoulders back, take a few deep breaths. It takes less than a minute and can ease up on the pain. It’s also helpful to reduce stress, which really, is a win for everyone.
Ice vs heat, the debate on this rages on. Acupuncturists almost always prefer to heat an area vs icing it because cold causes more blockage, i.e. the traffic jam gets worse. My own personal recommendations on this is to avoid heat if the area is red or hot to the touch. If it isn’t, I suggest trying the heat and see if you like the result.
Manage your stress. If you’re struggling with this, book a coaching consultation and we can come up with a plan to help you. In acupuncture theory, that tight neck and shoulders making your elbows hurt comes from repressed emotion (acupuncture speak for stress). In my experience, the fastest way to deal with it is to get some outside perspective to guide you.
One last thing, don’t wait for this to get bad. Like anything, ignoring it won’t make it go away and dealing with it sooner will get you back to doing the things you love, without feeling the pain associated with it.