Tennis elbow also known as Lateral epicondylitis is a condition that affects the tendon of the elbow joint causing pain around the outside of the elbow. The inflammation in the tendon is caused due to the increased strain, overuse and wear & tear of the muscles attached to your elbow and wrist.
The condition has its name since it is most commonly seen in people involving in racquet sports like tennis. However, it is not required that only people who play tennis get it, other physically demanding activities which put the muscles of extension of the elbow under a lot of stress also can contribute to the condition.
Causes
- Repetitive or continuous strain over the elbow due to restless movements
- Lack of strength or flexibility within the forearm muscles
- Lack of strength within the shoulder muscles.
- Excessive pressure on nerves
Risk factors:
- Cutting down trees
- Painting
- Carpentry
- Plumbing
- Working on cars
- Working on an assembly line
- Gardening
- Scrubbing
- Constant writing
- Constant typing
- Playing Tennis, Golf, Throw ball
- Throwing and pitching activities
- Playing some types of musical instruments
- Kitchen work, such as cutting with a knife
Symptoms
- Swollen, red and warm elbow
- Pain in the outer part of the elbow
- Tenderness and inflammation in the outer part of the elbow
- Pain on movement especially while lifting objects
- Wrist pain while grasping objects
- Dull ache even in resting position
- Pain radiating downward into the forearms
- Elbow stiffness in the morning
- Weakness in the wrist joint
Tests to confirm diagnosis
The doctor resists extension of the 3rd digit of the hand while stabilizing proximal part. This causes pain and discomfort in the lateral epicondyle. More here
X Ray and MRI tests confirm the diagnosis.
Ayurvedic Understanding of Tennis Elbow :
According to Ayurveda, Tennis Elbow condition is majorly caused due to the vitiation of Pitta dosha in the starting stage then leading to the aggravation of Vata dosha as well. The vitiated doshas results in difficulty of the movement of elbow.
Panchakarma treatment in Tennis Elbow –
- Rest to the arm
- Mild Snehana oleation(snehana)
- Mild sweating treatment(swedana)
- Patrapinda Sweda – Ela Kizhi – certain leaves and salt is tied into a pack, dipped in oil and applied over the elbow. Relieves pain.
- Shastika Shali Pinda Swedam/ Navarakizhi – with rice and milk – to heal the torn tendon, to rejuvenate and strengthen elbow
- Pizhichil (medicated oil bath) etc are administered to relieve pain, inflammation of muscles and tendons.
- Dhanyamladhara or sweating treatment (Swedana),
- Lepanam,
- Upanaha (herbal bandages)
- Pichu treatment
- Agnikarma
External medicine useful in Tennis elbow-
- Ksheerabala taila 101 – is used for oral administration – this rejuvenates the tendon.
- Bala taila – Massage improves strength of muscles and tendons
- Sahacharadi taila – Massage is especially useful when there is elbow joint stiffness
- Prasarini taila – reduces pain, relieves nerve irritation
- Dhanvantara taila – externally applied to relieve swelling and inflammation.
- Avartita maharaja prasarini taila – Used to soothe nerve irritation and to heal torn tendons.
- Murivennam
- Ksheerabala taila
- Kottamchukkadi taila
- Nirgundi taila
Internal medicaments
- Dashamoolarishta
- Balarishtha
- Jeerakarishtha
- Asthavarga kashaya
- Maharasnadi Kashaya
- Sahacharadi kashaya
- Amritottara kashaya
- Rasnasaptaka kashaya
- Yogaraja guggulu
- Mahayogaraja guggulu
- Gokshuradi guggulu
- Kaishora guggulu
- Vatavidhwamsa rasa
- Ekangaveera rasa
- Mahavatavidwansa rasa
- Ajamamsa Rasayana
Physical Therapy –
- Tennis elbow strap – Also called tennis elbow brace, keeps the muscles and tendons in stiff position. It reduces the excessive movement and gives them the needed rest and time to heal. It can be used for at least 4 – 8 hours per day.
- Strengthening exercises – Specific exercises are helpful for strengthening the muscles of the forearm
Home remedies for Tennis elbow
- Take fresh castor leaves. Apply any of the above herbal oils or sesame oils to it. Put it on a pan, heat it. Apply this over the affected region for 2 – 10 minutes. Make sure that the leaves are not too hot to cause damage to the skin and underlying tissue. Ideally, they should just be lukewarm.
- If you can get Vitex negundo leaves (Nirgundi), the same procedure can be repeated with these leaves.
- Equal amount of Eranda taila (castor oil) and Sarshapa taila (mustard oil) are taken and warmed. This is applied to a cloth and wrapped around the lesion. The fine powder of wheat and Shunthi (ginger) is mixed and by adding little warm water thick paste is made. This is applied around the affected area of Tennis elbow. If necessary the area can be wrapped with a cloth.
Prevention tips
- Avoid straining your elbows.
- Find the activity that is causing the tennis elbow and find an alternative to it.
- Get training from professionals to avoid any stiffness and discomfort before indulging in sports like tennis or squash.
- Always warm up before any intense exercise to increase your range of motion.
- Do exercises that help to strengthen your forearm muscles, like stretching and dumbbell curls.
- Wear a tennis elbow band or brace.
- Do forearm stretching and strengthening exercises to accelerate recovery.
- Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to rest to avoid further inflammation and pain.
TREATMENT PROGRAM INCLUDES:
- Initial Consultation with Ayurveda Doctor and daily follow up consultation
- Accommodation
- All Ayurvedic Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Supper) & herbal drink.
- Advice on Diet & Lifestyle Management
- Ayurveda Therapies – Customized for each client.
- Yoga (once a day – Yoga Asanas, Breathing, Meditation and Relaxation)
RESERVATION DETAILS:
- We are committed to keep up the quality of our treatment programs and we take only a limited number of patients each month.
- So we advise you to reserve your treatment programs a minimum one month in advance.
- The 50% charges of the treatment programs should be paid in advance to reserve the treatment programs.
- The advance deposit will be deducted from the total treatment programs and the balance must be paid on the first day of the treatment program.