Half of tennis players will experience lateral epicondylitis at some point. So, it’s no surprise it’s more commonly known as “tennis elbow.” Nonetheless, non-tennis players experience it, too. In fact, approximately 1% to 3% of Canadians suffer from tennis elbow.
Tennis elbow is caused by overusing the muscles attached to the elbow and used for straightening the wrist. Overuse causes small tears and inflammation to develop on the lateral epicondyle on the outside of the elbow.
And while tennis’s repetitive and intense movements make players susceptible, it can be caused by any activity that puts consistent stress on the elbow joint.
Tennis Elbow Recovery Time and Treatment
Tennis elbow recovery time can vary between six months to two years, with 90% of patients making a full recovery within a year.
Conservative treatment usually involves rest and avoiding the activities causing the issue, along with painkillers and anti-inflammatories. Physiotherapy, strength training, stretching, and massage can help encourage blood flow to repair damaged tissue. Orthotics like braces, support bandages, or splints can also be used.
More invasive treatments can involve steroid injections, which usually only provide short-term relief, or surgery.
How Shockwave Therapy Reduces Tennis Elbow Recovery Time
Whether it’s elite athletes or busy working people, many patients can’t afford to take that much downtime.
Shockwave therapy is ideal for patients who want to reduce tennis elbow recovery time without turning to drugs or surgery. With a handheld shockwave therapy device, healthcare professionals can target the affected area with acoustic pressure waves, which stimulate cells responsible for healing damaged tissue and bone.
A study recently published in the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology compared the effectiveness of shockwave therapy to conventional physiotherapy for tennis elbow.
Forty patients were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received shockwave therapy and the other physio. Both groups received five sessions of treatment on consecutive days.
Both groups saw improvements in terms of the visual analog scale, DASH scores, and maximal grip strength. However, researchers noted “the pain was reduced and upper-extremity function and maximal grip strength were more significantly improved” in the shockwave group.
Just five consecutive treatments were enough to produce significant results.
Treat More Patients With Faster Results
Not only can shockwave therapy reduce tennis elbow recovery time, but it can also heal many other musculoskeletal disorders quickly. Physiotherapists, orthopedists, chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals use our shockwave devices to deliver better outcomes for their patients. That’s because we are the exclusive distributors of Storz shockwave technology, the best devices on the market.
Interested in a free consultation? Call (866) 963-5373 or visit our website today.
