Does dry needling help tennis elbow?
Resolving the Riddle: Tennis Elbow and Dry Needling
If you're like me, a typical bloke in Melbourne with two spunky kids, Dexter and Harper, you're no stranger to elbow pain. Between tossing a footy for the kids, playing tennis on the weekends, and typing out blog posts every other day, my elbows take a beating! And that's how I got acquainted with tennis elbow. Dealing with this nagging pain led me on a quest to find a suitable solution. This exploration led me to the nearly 'pointed' avenue of dry needling. Now, you may be thinking, "Kendrick, you're just jabbing at straws here!" But hold onto your footy boots, because what I've found may truly change the game.
Facing the Fiend: Understanding Tennis Elbow
Understanding pain usually involves diving deep into medical jargon, something I usually leave to the pros. But as a sufferer myself, I've got a reasonable handle on explaining tennis elbow. Medically known as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow is a type of tendinitis. This fancy term simply refers to swelling of the tendons that causes pain and discomfort, typically on the outer part of the elbow. Despite its name, tennis elbow is not just for Serena Williams or Rafael Nadal. Any repetitive wrist or forearm motion can lead to this boomerang of a pain, making it a common complaint amongst manual labourers, musicians, and even we writing enthusiasts.
Plunge into the Point: What is Dry Needling?
My affable chiropractor introduced me to the concept of dry needling during a regular visit. Contrary to my initial mental image, it didn't involve dry dessert landscapes and prickly cacti. Instead, this therapeutic technique leverages thin needles strategically inserted into muscles and tissues experiencing discomfort or tightness. Now, if you're needle-phobic, keep your socks on! These needles are thin as a hair's breadth, and the needle ninja that's your physiotherapist uses them with such skill, you wouldn't notice it any more than a mosquito's whisper.
Piercing the Problem: Dry Needling for Tennis Elbow
Now, let's get to the crux of why you're reading this article. Does dry needling work for tennis elbow? Here's where things get interesting! Dry needling is believed to stimulate the natural healing processes of the body. Those thin, inconspicuous needles encourage your body to send more blood, nutrients and healing factors to the problem area. Researchers also suggest that this needling business helps to reduce inflammation, improve muscle function, and alleviate pain. Seems like a triple threat! No wonder I was intrigued.
Unraveling the Threads: Evidence for Dry Needling in Tennis Elbow Treatment
Don't just take my word for it. In my pursuit of pain relief, I dug out some research studies as well. A systematic review that examined 13 studies on dry needling concluded that this treatment method is indeed effective for chronic musculoskeletal pain. What a breather! Another study, published in the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, related tennis elbow specifically with dry needling. Researchers found that incorporating dry needling into treatment programs for tennis elbow significantly improved the pain and grip strength of the participants. While the scientific community tends to be conservative about these things, the evidence tilts towards dry needling being a helpful tool in the tennis elbow toolkit.
The Other Side: Recognizing the Risks
Now, as my kids Dexter and Harper often remind me when I tell them tales of my childhood misadventures, "Dad, there's always a twist in the tail!" So, indeed, while dry needling seems promising for something as stubborn as tennis elbow, it does have potential risks and drawbacks. Some people may experience temporary muscle soreness, bleeding or bruising at the needling site. In rare cases, serious complications can occur. Therefore, it's super important to have this treatment under a certified and experienced practitioner. Like everything in life, it's all about striking a balance!
Speedy Gonzales or Slowpoke Rodriguez: Pacing Expectations
Let's not forget, healing takes time. There's no magic elixir or fast-forward button for recovery. It took me a good few months and multiple dry needling sessions to feel an appreciable difference in my elbow pain. And mind you, this was combined with exercises, rest and an adjusted typing technique that took forever to perfect. But was it worth it? Absolutely! That's not to say it will be the same for you. Perhaps you'll be the lucky bloke who feels the difference just as quickly as my son Dexter gobbles down his Vegemite toast in the morning. Or perhaps, you'll be stuck in Harper's Sloth Speed mode, but steady wins the race, right?
All in all, dry needling has been a reprieve for me in dealing with tennis elbow, and I hope sharing my experience helps you in some way. Give it a go, structure your expectations, consult with a professional, and remember to enjoy the journey to recovery. Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
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