Diagnosing Epicondylitis
(Tennis and Golfer's Elbow)
Medical professionals will be able to assess, test and diagnose whether you have tennis elbow or golfer's elbow through a variety of processes.
To begin with, they will gather a medical history about you and your current condition and symptoms. They will inquire about the intensity of your present pain, the duration of your symptoms and the limitations you are experiencing (i.e. does it hurt when you move your wrist). Details about what instigated the problem, when it started, and whether or not you have ever had treatments for this or a similar condition in the past, are very helpful in assessing your injury.
A physical examination will be performed to determine if you have any signs of tennis elbow, golfer's elbow or other elbow injuries. They will visually assess and palpate (feel) the bones and soft tissue in both your elbows to evaluate symmetry and recognize differences. This will identify any abnormalities, such as mild or severe inflammation (redness, warmth, swelling, pain or dysfunction), bone deformity, and atrophied muscles. You will generally be asked to complete a series of elbow, wrist, finger or forearm movements to test possible elbow injuries, as well as your range of motion, muscle strength, joint stability and location of tenderness.
An X-ray can assist your doctor in eliminating other causes of elbow pain, such as arthritis or a fracture, however it is often not required. Rarely are more complex diagnostic tests requested; occasionally an EMG (electromyography) or nerve studies will be recommended if more information is needed.
How to Treat Your Elbow Tendon Injury
It is important to treat tendon injuries as soon as possible, as any activity or strain you put on your tendon can re-injure it further.
The trick with any tendon injury is getting it to heal with minimal scar tissue formation and with as much realignment of the tendon fibres as possible - something ultrasound therapy is great at! Even with optimum healing, there is always less elasticity in a previously injured tendon. This will cause the tendon to hurt, during exercise and everyday activities. However, if you heal your injury efficiently and quickly, your chance of re-injury later on is much lower than average.
Allowing your elbow to rest is always recommended following injury. Avoid all activities that may have caused the injury or irritation and begin cold compression treatments as soon as possible. Therapeutic ultrasound treats scar tissue and Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy (BFST®) promotes blood flow to heal your tendon faster and more completely than any other methods available.
Although steroid injections may provide temporary relief from the pain of tendinitis or tendinosis, they should generally be avoided as they weaken the tendon. If you do opt for an injection, doctors usually recommend that you do not participate in strenuous activities for several weeks to reduce the risk of a rupture.
Cold Compression Freezie Wraps®
Doctors recommend using cold compression as soon as possible following a tendon injury and re-injury to reduce pain and swelling and minimize tissue damage that occurs with soft tissue injuries like tendon tears.
The Freezie Wraps® allow you to treat your elbow tendon in an effective and convenient way. The wrap is adjustable which allows you to control the compression to a level that is comfortable for you and the gel packs are chilled in the fridge not the freezer. This eliminates the risk of cryoburn, or 'cold burns', on your skin that can be cause by ice and strandard freezer gel packs. You can also wear the Freezie Wrap® for longer treatments so you can enjoy even more relief from your pain!
Cold Compression Therapy works by interrupting and slowing nerve and cell function in the injured area and reducing swelling that can block blood vessels. This is important because once blood vessels are blocked or damaged, they can no longer carry oxygenated blood through the tendon and tissue cells begin to break-down. Without cold compression therapy cellular break-down and tissue damage continues as the cells do not get the oxygen they need to survive. By limiting the amount of damage done to your tendon, you also limit the amount of healing that needs to occur. This is a very important step to heal your tendon faster and with less pain!
The deep cooling effect provided by Freezie Wraps® gives you the fast, effective relief your sore tendon has been looking for!
Click Here to learn more about Freezie Wrap® ColdCure Technology® Technology
Ultrasound Therapy
Ultrasound Therapy increases tissue elasticity while promoting the flow of blood (filled with vital oxygen and nutrients) to your injured elbow. This cleans the injured area by getting rid of damaged tissue and reducing the inflammation in your joint while opening up the blood vessels to begin healing.
During the healing process, scar tissue builds on the tendon, limiting the flexibility and movement of the tendon. Fortunately, you can treat your elbow with therapeutic ultrasound to soften scar tissue and improve the gliding motion and flexibility of your tendon.
Not only does ultrasound aid in the duration of healing, but it helps to prevent long term complications. Pain, lack of mobility, tendinosis, or a complete tendon rupture are some of the more common long term complications that can occur when tendon injuries and tendinitis go untreated. By treating your elbow with ultrasound, scar tissue becomes softer and the tissue becomes stronger reducing the risk of chronic problems in the future.
If you've suffered from tennis elbow or golfer's elbow for a long period of time, ultrasound can help. Ultrasound therapy can help to break up scar and fibrous tissue that has built up over time on the tendon and restore flexibility in your elbow.
MendMeShop® Ultrasound System with phonophoresis is safe, convenient, and easy and generally requires between 5 - 10 minutes per treatment. It is based on a form of deep tissue therapy, which is generated through high frequency sound waves (that we can not hear). These waves send vibrations deep into your body and slightly increase the temperature of your soft tissue cells. The waves are delivered through a hand held transducer and conductive gel that are used together in a slow, circular motion on your skin over the injured area.
Ultrasound can also be used to administer therapeutic medicines into the body. This is a process known as phonophoresis. Ultrasound with phonophoresis is rapidly becoming more popular than ultrasound therapy alone.
Using MendMeShop® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel during your therapy gives you 2 therapies in 1. You get the benefit of the regenerating sound waves from the ultrasound device itself AND the added bonus of the therapeutic ingredients inside the gel being delivered into the tissue where it is most effective. 1 FREE bottle of MendMeShop® Lavender Infusion Ultrasound Gel comes with every MendMeShop® Ultrasound System and it contains the therapeutic essential oils of natural Bulgarian lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, and menthol.
Once the inflammation of your tendon injury has been reduced, nourishing and strengthening the tendon tissue and surrounding area is recommended. Using Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy™ will speed your recovery and heal your tendon more completely preparing it for use again. Talk to your doctor or physical therapist to find out which exercises are appropriate for your situation.
Click Here to learn more about Ultrasound Therapy
Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy™
After the inflammation and swelling is gone you can begin to treat your epicondylitis with Blood Flow Stimulation Therapy™, or BFST®. BFST® increases the amount of blood that flows naturally to your elbow tendons to nourish and speed healing.
Tendons naturally receive a limited blood supply and this significantly reduces its natural ability to heal themselves. And when you stop moving because your elbow hurts, your tendons get even less blood flow.
By treating your injury with BFST® you can increase your body's blood supply and increase your body's natural healing power, in a convenient, painless treatment that just feels good!
In addition, the fresh blood flow whisks away dead cells and toxins that have built up from the injury leaving the area clean and able to heal faster. Our Inferno Wraps® provide effective, non-invasive, non-addictive pain relief and healing with no side effects.
Click Here to learn more about how BFST® works
With these 3 easy therapies you will notice incredible improvement in the health and flexibility tendon and reduced daily pain. The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results!
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