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A well-known injury to the elbow is the tennis elbow. This initially starts as an inflammation of the tendon of the forearm extensor muscles as they insert onto part of the elbow. This is often due to overuse of the muscles of the forearm and occurs not only in tennis, but also squash, racquetball, and golf. Repetitive stress on the muscles results in micro-tears through the tendon as it attaches to the bone. This is made worse if the player is not properly conditioned or improper technique is used. If the injury is not treated initially, the injured area apparently undergoes degeneration (tendinosis). In either case, symptoms occur gradually and are increased with activities like hitting backhand shots. Icing the injured area is the typical treatment for this condition. There is a problem with this mode of treatment, because the metabolic rate in tendons is already suppressed. Ice just slows the metabolic rate even more, making complete healing for the athlete even less likely. Because the tendons and muscles are superficial to the skin, cortisone shots are often given, which will just increase the rate of tendon degeneration. X-rays are sometimes ordered to evaluate for possible fractures, loose bodies in the joint, or arthritis. Except for acute fractures or loose bodies (cartilage) in the joint, Prolotherapy is the treatment of choice for elbow sports injuries. Prolotherapy immediately stimulates the healing process and provides pain relief. Another elbow condition occurs on the inner side of the elbow and is referred to as medial epicondylitis. This is frequently seen through repetitive stress of the flexor muscles of the forearm. This may be seen with tennis players, bowlers, and golfers. Prolotherapy can be quite useful in regard to recovering from this condition. |
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