Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow respond exceptionally well to shockwave therapy, with most patients experiencing significant pain reduction within 3-4 treatments. At Family Tree Chiropractic in Oklahoma City, Dr. Micah Carter uses the Sanuwave device to break down chronic inflammation and scar tissue in damaged elbow tendons, promoting natural healing without risky cortisone injections or surgery. Most patients return to normal activities within 6-8 weeks.
Understanding Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow
Despite their names, these conditions affect far more than just tennis players and golfers. Anyone who performs repetitive gripping, lifting, or twisting motions can develop these painful elbow problems.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) affects the outside of your elbow where forearm extensor tendons attach. These are the muscles that lift your wrist and fingers up. Repetitive stress causes inflammation and microscopic tears in these tendons.
Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis) affects the inside of your elbow where forearm flexor tendons attach. These muscles bend your wrist and fingers down. The mechanism is similar to tennis elbow, just on the opposite side.
Who Gets Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow
I see these conditions constantly in my Oklahoma City practice. Carpenters, plumbers, painters, and mechanics develop elbow tendonitis from repetitive tool use. Office workers get it from computer mouse usage and typing with poor ergonomics.
Athletes beyond tennis and golf develop these problems too. Weightlifters, rock climbers, and baseball pitchers all stress their elbow tendons repetitively. Age plays a role as well, with most cases occurring between ages 30-50 when tendons lose some elasticity.
The condition develops gradually in most cases. You might notice occasional elbow discomfort after activity that progresses to constant pain. Eventually, simple tasks like shaking hands, turning a doorknob, or lifting a coffee cup become painful.
Common Symptoms
Tennis elbow causes pain and tenderness on the outside of your elbow. The pain often radiates down your forearm toward your wrist. Gripping objects, lifting, or extending your wrist against resistance makes it worse.
Golfer’s elbow causes pain on the inside of your elbow that may radiate down the inside of your forearm. Flexing your wrist or gripping objects aggravates the pain. Some people experience numbness or tingling in their ring and pinky fingers.
Both conditions cause weakness in your affected arm. You might find yourself dropping things or having difficulty with activities requiring grip strength. Morning stiffness is common, with the elbow feeling especially tight when you first wake up.
Why Traditional Treatments Often Fail
Most people start with rest, ice, and over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication. That might help initially, but symptoms usually return when you resume normal activities.
Elbow braces and straps can reduce pain temporarily by changing the stress angle on the damaged tendons. But they don’t address the underlying tendon damage. You’re just managing symptoms, not healing the problem.
Physical therapy helps some patients through stretching and strengthening exercises. But chronic tendonitis often plateaus without reaching full recovery. The degenerative changes in the tendon need more aggressive intervention.
The Cortisone Problem
Cortisone injections are commonly used for tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. They provide temporary relief by reducing inflammation. But research shows cortisone actually impairs long-term healing.
Cortisone weakens tendons and increases re-injury risk. Studies show higher failure rates and worse long-term outcomes in patients who receive cortisone injections compared to those who don’t.
I’ve seen patients whose elbow tendons ruptured months after cortisone injections. The temporary pain relief isn’t worth the long-term tissue damage cortisone causes.
How Shockwave Therapy Heals Elbow Tendonitis
Shockwave therapy offers a completely different approach. Instead of suppressing inflammation with drugs, it stimulates your body’s natural healing response.
The Sanuwave device delivers focused acoustic waves directly into the damaged elbow tendons. These waves break down scar tissue and calcification that developed in chronically inflamed tendons.
Shockwave therapy increases blood flow to the area, bringing nutrients and oxygen needed for healing. It activates stem cells and growth factors that promote tissue regeneration. The damaged tendon actually heals and regenerates, not just temporarily feels better.
What Happens During Treatment
Each shockwave session takes about 5-10 minutes. You rest your arm comfortably while I apply the Sanuwave handpiece to the affected elbow area.
You’ll feel pulsing or tapping sensations as the device delivers acoustic waves. The tender spots hurt more than healthy tissue, which actually helps identify exactly where the most damage exists. The discomfort is tolerable and lasts only during the active treatment.
Most cases of tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow need 4-6 treatments spaced about a week apart. Some chronic cases require additional sessions. We evaluate your progress after each treatment and adjust the plan accordingly.
Results You Can Expect
Many patients notice improvement after the first or second treatment. Pain decreases, grip strength improves, and daily activities become easier.
Full healing takes 6-10 weeks depending on severity and how long you’ve had the condition. The shockwave therapy continues working even between sessions as the stimulated healing response builds over time.
I had a carpenter who’d been dealing with severe tennis elbow for over two years. He couldn’t work without constant pain. Physical therapy helped minimally. Cortisone shots provided only temporary relief. After five shockwave treatments, his pain dropped from an 8 to a 2. He’s back working full-time without limitation.
Long-Lasting Relief
Because shockwave therapy promotes actual tissue healing and regeneration, the benefits last. You’re not masking symptoms or managing pain indefinitely.
The regenerated tendon tissue is healthier and more resilient than the chronically inflamed tissue it replaced. Patients who complete their full treatment series typically maintain improvement for years.
Some people whose jobs or activities involve high repetitive stress need occasional maintenance treatments. But nothing like the constant management required with other approaches.
Combining Shockwave with Chiropractic Care
Elbow problems often relate to neck and upper back dysfunction. Cervical spine misalignments affect nerve function to arm muscles. When muscles aren’t firing properly, tendons take excessive stress.
Chiropractic adjustments restore proper alignment to your cervical and thoracic spine. This improves nerve function and reduces compensatory strain on elbow tendons.
We also adjust the elbow joint itself when appropriate. Joint restrictions contribute to abnormal mechanics and tendon stress. Restoring normal elbow joint motion reduces stress on damaged tendons.
Addressing Muscle Imbalances
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow always involve muscle imbalances. Some forearm muscles are too tight while others are too weak. This imbalance overloads the tendons.
We release tight muscles through massage and specific stretches. We strengthen weak muscles through targeted exercises. Balanced muscle function takes stress off the healing tendons and prevents recurrence.
I provide specific exercises to do at home between treatments. These exercises are critical for maintaining the corrections we make during office visits.
Activity Modifications During Treatment
You need to modify activities that aggravate your elbow during treatment. This doesn’t mean complete rest, which often makes elbow problems worse. But it does mean avoiding the specific movements that caused the injury.
If your job requires repetitive gripping or lifting, we discuss modifications or temporary alternative duties. If sports caused the problem, we analyze your technique and identify changes that reduce elbow stress.
As symptoms improve, we gradually reintroduce activities. The key is progressive loading without re-injury. Push too hard too fast and you’ll have a setback. Progress appropriately and you’ll make steady gains.
Ergonomic Corrections
Work-related elbow tendonitis often stems from poor ergonomics. Computer mouse position, desk height, and tool design all affect elbow stress.
Using a vertical mouse instead of a traditional mouse reduces forearm rotation stress. Keeping your keyboard and mouse at proper height prevents excessive wrist extension. Tool modifications like padded grips reduce grip force requirements.
These seemingly small changes dramatically reduce daily tendon stress. Combined with shockwave therapy, ergonomic improvements accelerate healing and prevent recurrence.
Exercises for Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow
Eccentric strengthening exercises are particularly effective for elbow tendonitis. These exercises lengthen the muscle under load, promoting proper collagen alignment as the tendon heals.
For tennis elbow, wrist extension exercises with light resistance work well. Slowly lower a weight from the extended position, controlling the descent. This eccentric loading stimulates tendon healing.
For golfer’s elbow, wrist flexion exercises follow the same principle. The controlled lowering phase is more important than the lifting phase for tendon recovery.
Stretching and Mobility Work
Tight forearm muscles increase tendon stress. Regular stretching of both flexor and extensor muscles helps reduce this stress.
Nerve gliding exercises improve mobility of nerves that pass through the elbow. When nerves get tight or restricted, they contribute to elbow pain and can slow healing.
I teach you exactly how to perform these exercises with proper form. Done incorrectly, they can aggravate the condition. Done correctly, they’re essential for complete recovery.
Preventing Elbow Tendonitis Recurrence
Once we get you healed, preventing recurrence becomes the focus. Proper warm-up before activities that stress your elbows prepares the tendons for work.
Maintain balanced forearm strength. Both flexor and extensor muscles need adequate strength to protect the tendons. Continue the strengthening exercises even after completing treatment.
Take breaks during repetitive activities. Even 30 seconds of stretching every 30 minutes of repetitive work makes a significant difference in preventing overuse injuries.
Equipment and Technique
For athletes, proper technique is critical. Poor tennis serve mechanics, golf swing flaws, or weightlifting form errors all increase elbow injury risk.
Equipment matters too. Tennis racquet grip size, string tension, and weight all affect elbow stress. Golf club grip size and shaft flex influence force transmission to your elbow. Getting properly fitted equipment reduces injury risk.
Manual workers benefit from ergonomic tools. Padded grips, proper tool weight, and designs that reduce repetitive stress all help prevent elbow problems.
When Surgery Might Be Necessary
Most cases of tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow heal with conservative treatment including shockwave therapy. Surgery becomes necessary only when conservative treatment fails after 6-12 months of proper care.
Surgical options include removing damaged tissue, repairing torn tendons, or releasing tight tissue. Recovery from elbow tendonitis surgery takes 3-6 months with no guarantee of success.
Given shockwave therapy’s high success rate, trying this conservative approach first makes sense. Even if surgery eventually becomes necessary, the conservative treatment you’ve done isn’t wasted. Improved muscle strength and mechanics before surgery lead to better surgical outcomes.
Comparison to Other Treatments
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are sometimes used for elbow tendonitis. While PRP can help, it’s expensive and often not covered by insurance. Shockwave therapy produces comparable or better results at lower cost.
Dry needling and acupuncture provide some benefit through mechanical stimulation of the tissue. But shockwave therapy penetrates deeper and stimulates stronger healing responses.
Topical treatments like creams and patches might reduce pain temporarily but don’t address the underlying tendon damage. They’re symptom management, not healing.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
Many insurance plans cover shockwave therapy for elbow tendonitis when conservative treatments have failed. We verify your coverage before starting treatment and explain any out-of-pocket costs upfront.
Even when insurance doesn’t cover shockwave therapy, most patients find it worthwhile. The alternative is months of ongoing treatment with uncertain results, or surgery with high costs and lengthy recovery.
Our $49 new patient special includes consultation, comprehensive examination, first adjustment, digital X-rays if needed, and a massage voucher. This gives you a thorough evaluation so we can determine if shockwave therapy is right for your elbow problem.
Real Patient Success Stories
I treated an office worker who developed severe tennis elbow from years of computer mouse use. She couldn’t type without pain shooting down her forearm. Simple tasks like opening jars or shaking hands hurt.
We corrected her workspace ergonomics, used shockwave therapy to heal the damaged tendons, and provided specific exercises. After six weeks, her pain was 80% improved. After ten weeks, she was essentially pain-free and back to normal work.
Another patient, a competitive tennis player, developed golfer’s elbow despite the ironic name. His serve and forehand caused intense inside elbow pain. He’d tried rest, physical therapy, and a cortisone shot that helped only temporarily.
Five shockwave treatments combined with technique corrections and specific exercises got him back on the court pain-free. That was 18 months ago and he’s still playing without problems.
Why Choose Family Tree Chiropractic
We have the Sanuwave device, one of the most advanced shockwave therapy systems available. Not all shockwave devices produce equal results. The Sanuwave’s focused acoustic waves penetrate deeper and stimulate more effective healing.
In my 23 years treating patients in Oklahoma City, I’ve developed specific protocols for elbow tendonitis. I understand what works and what doesn’t. Your treatment plan is based on proven methods.
We also treat sports injuries comprehensively. Whether your elbow problem came from athletics, work, or daily activities, we address all contributing factors for complete healing.
Getting Started with Treatment
Your first visit includes comprehensive elbow evaluation. We assess range of motion, strength, special orthopedic tests, and take X-rays if needed to rule out other problems.
On your second visit, I provide a detailed report of findings. You’ll understand your specific condition, what caused it, and the treatment plan to fix it. No guessing, just clear explanations based on objective findings.
Don’t let elbow pain limit your work, hobbies, or daily activities. Call Family Tree Chiropractic at (405) 340-4400 to schedule your evaluation with Dr. Carter. We’ll determine if shockwave therapy is right for your tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow and create a plan for lasting relief. Visit our contact page to book online.
