Elbow Pain

Elbow pain from tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, or repetitive strain can make simple tasks like gripping a coffee cup or typing at your computer incredibly painful. Dr. Shangyou Zhong at Sunyo Acupuncture Center in San Juan Capistrano and Santa Monica, California, treats elbow pain by targeting local inflammation and the muscle imbalances in your forearm that keep the problem from recurring. This targeted approach combines Eastern and Western techniques to reduce pain and restore normal elbow function. Call the office or request an appointment online today.

What is elbow pain?

Elbow pain typically develops when the tendons that attach your forearm muscles to your elbow bone get inflamed or damaged. Your elbow joint has to handle forces from your upper arm and forearm while allowing complex movements like gripping, twisting, and lifting.

What causes elbow pain?

Several factors can lead to elbow pain, including:

• Repetitive gripping motions from sports or work activities
• Poor technique in tennis, golf, or other racquet sports
• Computer work that strains your forearm muscles
• Manual labor involving repetitive arm movements
• Sudden increase in activity level without proper conditioning
• Age-related wear-and-tear on tendons
• Poor posture that affects arm positioning

Office workers often develop elbow problems from mouse use and typing with poor ergonomics. The constant low-level muscle tension in your forearms can gradually irritate the tendon attachments at your elbow.

What are the symptoms of elbow pain?

Elbow pain varies depending on which tendons are affected:

• Aching pain on the outside or inside of your elbow
• Pain that gets worse when gripping or lifting objects
• Weakness when shaking hands or opening jars
• Stiffness in your elbow, especially in the morning
• Pain that radiates down into your forearm
• Tenderness when you press on the bony bumps of your elbow
• Difficulty with activities that require wrist movement

Many people notice their symptoms are at their worst when they first use their arm after rest, then improve with gentle movement.

How does elbow pain treatment work?

Sunyo Acupuncture Center uses several holistic approaches to treat elbow pain:

Traditional acupuncture 

Acupuncture targets points around your elbow and along your arm to help reduce inflammation in the affected tendons.

Motion acupuncture 

You perform gripping and wrist movements during treatment to identify and target the specific motions that trigger your elbow pain.

Cupping therapy 

Your practitioner places cups on your forearm muscles to improve circulation and help reduce tension in the muscles that attach to your elbow.

Massage therapy 

Massage works on your forearm muscles, upper arm, and the connective tissue around your elbow to improve flexibility and reduce strain on the inflamed tendons.

Call Sunyo Acupuncture Center or schedule an elbow pain consultation online today.