Tennis, Padel, or Squash can be incredibly enjoyable, but they come with the risk of developing health problems or sustaining injuries. One common issue is tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis.
This painful condition occurs when the tendons in the elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Given the extensive use of the forearm in tennis, it's no surprise that lateral epicondylitis is colloquially referred to as ‘tennis elbow.’
Tennis elbow can cause serious pain in the arms and elbows, impacting many daily activities for those who suffer from it. While tennis players are prone to this injury, it can affect anyone who performs repetitive movements involving the elbow, wrist, fingers, or arm, such as manual labourers, painters, carpenters, and even musicians.
Finding the right solution is essential to improving your quality of life. Incorporating Rolfing® Structural Integration into your treatment plan can provide a holistic approach: By addressing both the symptoms and underlying causes, Rolfing Structural Integration ensures efficient body movement and reduces the likelihood of future injuries. Rolfing's emphasis on improving biomechanics, restoring myofascial balance, and holistic body realignment makes it an effective and sustainable approach to dealing with tennis elbow.
Causes and Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
The primary cause of tennis elbow is the overuse and strain on the muscles and tendons of the forearm. The repetitive motion and stress can lead to microscopic tears in the tendon that attaches the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow.
This condition, also referred to as tendinosis, develops over time due to repetitive strain. It can manifest suddenly and painfully during activities like lifting items, gripping objects, shaking hands, or even straightening the wrist.
The pathology of tennis elbow involves degeneration of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) tendon. Histological studies have shown that the tendon may have a disorganised collagen structure due to unconscious biomechanics and an increased presence of fibroblasts and vascular hyperplasia*; the tendon’s response to traumatic stimuli is an over-production of new tissue cells.
Symptoms of tennis elbow include:
Pain or burning on the outer part of the elbow
Weak grip strength
Pain that worsens with forearm activity
These symptoms typically develop gradually and may worsen over weeks to months if not treated properly.
Conventional Treatment of Tennis Elbow
There are several conventional methods to relieve the pain associated with tennis elbow.
According to Certified Rolfer® Michael Kapic, rest and icing are especially important in the first few days when the elbow is acutely painful. This can reduce pain and inflammation and give the tissue the opportunity to heal:
Rest: One of the most effective ways to alleviate pain is to rest the affected arm and avoid using the muscles. This means refraining from activities like playing tennis, lifting weights, or performing home chores that strain the elbow.
Cold Treatments: Applying ice packs or other cold items to the affected area for 10-15 minutes, three or four times a day, can help reduce swelling and relieve pain. This can be particularly effective when combined with other treatments.
Physical Therapy: Physical therapy often includes exercises designed to strengthen the muscles around the elbow and improve flexibility.
According to Kapic, a combination of treatments is necessary to help the body sustainably and in the long term.
Rolfing Structural Integration can be a beneficial modality in fastening the healing process.”
-Michael Kapic, Certified Rolfer®
The Unique Benefits of Rolfing® Structural Integration for Tennis Elbow
Rolfing is an advanced form of holistic bodywork that goes beyond conventional treatments by reorganising the connective tissue, or fascia, which permeates the entire body.
Rolfing focuses on aligning the body's structure within the field of gravity to improve posture, ease of movement, and overall physical function. The technique involves deep manual manipulation of the body's fascia and movement education to help the body maintain its new alignment.
This image, supplied by our cooperation partner BODY WORLDS Museum Berlin, shows the fascial structure that extends over the hand, forearm, and elbow. It is a detail of the whole-body fascia plastinate FR:EYA, which is on display at the BODY WORLDS Museum Berlin.
Rolfing® Structural Integration can be particularly beneficial for treating tennis elbow by:
Releasing Fascial Restrictions
The repetitive motions leading to tennis elbow can cause the fascia in the forearm, elbow, and wrist to become tight and restricted. Rolfing practitioners use deep, targeted pressure to release these fascial restrictions, which can alleviate pain and improve range of motion.
For example, by restoring the myofascial span of the wrist extensors, Rolfing promotes tendon healing. This process involves realigning the connective tissues that support muscle and tendon function.
Within the whole body, a Rolfer can recognise where the main tension arises and try to enliven capacities in the movement chain from the hand to the back that reduce the strain on the tendon insertions.
Improving Postural Alignment
Poor posture and improper biomechanics can contribute to the development of tennis elbow. Rolfing helps realign the body, improving overall posture. It teaches clients how to move more efficiently, reducing stress on the elbow and forearm.
Balancing the tension in the body's soft tissues supports healthy joint movement. A Rolfer can help free any restrictions in the forearm bones (radius and ulna), improving elbow biomechanics and allowing the bones to move correctly in relation to each other. This can significantly reduce the strain on the elbow.
According to Rebekah and David Frome, Certified Advanced Rolfers®, “Rolfing improves the biomechanics of the body to perform repeated manual tasks reducing the risk of injury.”
Enhancing Blood Flow and Healing
By manipulating the fascia and surrounding tissues, Rolfing can increase blood flow to the affected area. Enhanced circulation promotes healing and reduces inflammation in the tendons and muscles of the forearm.
Addressing Compensatory Patterns
Often, people with tennis elbow develop compensatory movement patterns to avoid pain, which can lead to additional strain on other parts of the body. Rolfing identifies and corrects these patterns, ensuring a more balanced and effective use of the body.
Rolfing addresses not just the affected arm but the entire body. This includes ensuring that the back, shoulders, ribs, and spine can support the arm’s movement efficiently, reducing strain and preventing future injuries. This holistic approach allows the entire body to perform tasks more efficiently and minimises the risk of recurrence.
Conclusion
One of the significant benefits of Rolfing® Structural Integration for tennis elbow is its focus on the whole body. A Rolfer will not only treat the affected arm but also ensure that the entire body supports this arm's movement efficiently. This holistic approach includes improving the tension balance in the whole body, which supports the arm's mobility. By addressing the root causes of poor biomechanics and muscle tension, Rolfing can help prevent the return of tennis elbow.
Author: Sabine Becker
Sources:
What you Need to Know About Tennis Elbow by Michael Kapic, Certified Rolfer®, Vancouver, Canada.
What Exactly Is Tennis Elbow? By Rebekah and David Frome, Certified Advanced Rolfers®, Loch Arbour, New Jersey, USA.
Read more on how Robert McWilliams, Certified Advanced Rolfer®, Boulder, Colorado, USA, addressed his tennis elbow by combining soft-tissue manipulation with active movement.
Elbow Image: This image, supplied by our cooperation partner BODY WORLDS Museum Berlin (copyright © Institut für Plastination) is a detail of the world's first human 3-D fascia plastinate FR:EYA, which is on display at the BODY WORLDS Museum Berlin.
Glossary
*Hyperplasia is an abnormal accumulation of cells in the vascular tunica intima; the cell number is increased because of proliferation and/or migration of vascular wall cells, predominantly smooth muscle cells, often in response to a traumatic stimulus.
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