Elbow Pain

How do elbow joints work?

Your elbow joints are ball-and-socket joints. That means the long bones in your arm join to form a cup shape. In the center of that cup is a gelatinous sac that creates a slippery surface for the bones to move around. 

Your elbow joint can move in a flexing and extending motion as well as a pronation and supination motion. Your elbows are connected with a network of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Stress on these components can cause inflammation that leads to pain. 

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is a type of tendinitis that occurs when the muscles and tendons of your elbow sustain damage. Overuse of your elbow can cause this damage. The repetitive motions used during tennis practice and play is where this condition got its name, but tennis elbow can occur even if you’ve never picked up a racket.

If you notice elbow pain when you open doors, lift things, make a fist, or try to raise your hand, you might have tennis elbow. Pain can occur in your upper and lower arm, in addition to within the elbow joint.

Tennis elbow is unlikely to resolve itself without treatment. Your chiropractor at Align Healing Center can help by using joint manipulation to achieve optimal joint alignment.

Align healing center also relies on an approach called the Active Release Technique (ART) to treat elbow main. This manual therapy stretches connective tissues and improves the structural alignment of the affected joint. This creates an optimal environment for your body’s natural healing power to take effect. 

Chiropractic adjustments such as ART are generally coupled with laser therapy to help relieve the root cause of pain from the elbow. Additionally, Dr. Maimone may recommend taping the area. Taping is a method used to create a decompressive effect on the muscle and fascia which translates to an innate increased awareness on how you move, and in effect, how to move better to avoid further injury in the future. 

How can regenerative medicine help treat elbow pain?

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an exciting regenerative treatment that uses a solution created from your own blood to boost your innate healing ability. A small blood sample is drawn and spun in a centrifuge to isolate the platelets. 

Platelets are responsible for blood clotting, and also contain numerous growth factors that promote cellular renewal. When injected into your elbow, PRP can reduce inflammation and promote swift healing. 

To get started on elbow pain treatment, schedule an appointment with Align Healing Center today. You can book online or over the phone.