Are you someone that is suffering from tennis elbow? Tennis elbow is extremely common. There are more than 200,000 cases of it annually in the United States alone. If you do have tennis elbow, what are your treatment options? Do you have a sound plan? Should acupuncture for tennis elbow be something you should be trying?
The Condition of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a condition that is the result of the tendons of the elbow becoming inflamed. Another name for the condition is epicondylitis. The usual cause is just overuse of the muscles of the forearm. The name tennis elbow originated from the fact that many in the state, were tennis players. When tennis players swing the racket repeatedly, using their forearm muscles, inflammation can occur.
The Idea of Acupuncture
The idea of acupuncture for tennis elbow is nothing new, but it is still something many with the condition do not usually try. The theory behind acupuncture for tennis elbow is Traditional Chinese Medicine and acupuncture as a general medicinal category. The typical treatment of acupuncture is going to involve many thin filament needles. The needles go into specific areas of the body. For tennis elbow, that area is going to the muscles in the forearm.
The points of needle placement go along the Meridians or paths of the body that are recognized by Traditional Chinese Medicine. The goal for acupuncture is to unblock the energy flow, allowing it to reach the pain points for healing to occur. Many who have tried acupuncture have stated that it does work.
Evidence Exists
There is a lot of evidence out there surrounding positivity of acupuncture for tennis elbow. Many think that acupuncture can not only relieve the pain of the condition but also heal it long-term.
The masking of tennis elbow is something that we often reach for with ice therapy, anti-inflammatory pills, Cortisone shots. They may give relief, but are they going to help with healing? The answer is a resounding no.
While we do not know exactly as to whether or not acupuncture for tennis elbow is something that works long-term, many believe in it. If you are interested at all in acupuncture, it could be worth a try as a treatment method to try and take care of the condition.
Complement Acupuncture
You want to complement acupuncture with other tools as well. This may include things such as elbow braces or an elbow strap that can work to temporarily relieve symptoms of the condition. When you have an advanced treatment like acupuncture for tennis elbow, combined with a comprehensive tennis elbow 7 step program and a focus on neck and shoulder work, you can get some fantastic short and long-term results.