Tennis Elbow: what to do about it?

Tennis elbow is very common and acupuncture is effective in 90% of cases. It is often caused by over-gripping a hammer, or the use of secateurs.

Patients are unable to grip things easily, or not at all. This is due to inflammation of the extensor tendon of the elbow. As we grip objects, we tend to extend the hand backwards and this causes the pain.

There may be pain on the lateral epicondyle of the humerus (the bony protuberance on the outside of the elbow).

Acupuncture treatment involves feeling around the elbow for tender points and needling them. Normally nothing is felt as the acupuncture needle goes in, it is the 'feeling around' which causes the most discomfort!
I have also treated tennis elbow with ‘cupping’ and achieved good results. This may be an alternative if the patients don’t want to be treated with needles.

Depending on which acupuncture channels are involved, additional points will be selected on the hand to help move the energy from the affected area down the channel. If the bony protuberance at the elbow is tender then this can be needled and a Chinese herb called 'moxa' is applied to warm the area, encourage the circulation of blood, and reduce the pain - often with very good results.

If both elbows are affected then there is likely to be a back problem complicating the picture and this will need more treatment.