What Is Tennis Elbow?
Are everyday activities like lifting a coffee mug or opening a door becoming painful? You might be dealing with tennis elbow, a condition that affects many Ankeny residents—whether they play tennis or not.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles to the outside of your elbow. When these tendons are overused, tiny tears develop, leading to pain and tenderness on the outer part of your elbow. (This is called tendonitis.)
Despite its name, only about 5% of tennis elbow cases actually come from playing tennis. This condition can affect anyone who performs repetitive arm movements in their daily life or work.
(Is your pain more on the inside of the elbow? You may be looking for golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis).
Common Causes We See in Ankeny
At Feel Good Chiropractic & Wellness, we regularly treat tennis elbow resulting from:
- Repetitive computer mouse use (common among professionals working from home or at Des Moines Area Community College)
- Home improvement projects (especially painting, hammering, and screwdriver use)
- Certain sports (tennis at Prairie Ridge, golf at Otter Creek, weightlifting)
- Jobs requiring repetitive motions (carpentry, plumbing, butchering, cooking)
- Gardening and lawn care activities
- Carrying heavy items with extended elbows
Signs You Might Have Tennis Elbow
Watch for these key symptoms:
- Pain or burning on the outer part of your elbow
- Pain that worsens when gripping objects
- Weakness in your forearm
- Discomfort when extending your wrist
- Morning stiffness in your elbow
- Pain that radiates down your forearm
Beyond Rest and Anti-inflammatories: Our Comprehensive Approach
While conventional treatments like rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain medications might provide temporary relief, they rarely address the root cause of tennis elbow and can often slow healing and make the problem worse. At our Ankeny clinic, we take a more thorough approach:
1. Advanced Laser Therapy: Accelerated Healing
Our Class IV LightForce laser therapy effectively treats tennis elbow by:
- Increasing blood flow to damaged tendons that naturally have poor circulation
- Stimulating cellular energy production to power the healing process
- Reducing inflammation without medications
- Penetrating deep into affected tissues
Although tendon issues are norotiously slow healing, many of our Ankeny patients report significant pain reduction after just 2-3 treatment sessions.
2. Evidence-Based Rehabilitation
Current research shows specific exercises are essential for proper tendon healing:
Phase 1: Isometric Exercises – Holding a static contraction without moving the joint can immediately reduce pain by inhibiting pain pathways while beginning to strengthen the tendon.
Phase 2: Eccentric Exercises – Slowly lengthening the muscle-tendon unit under load stimulates proper collagen alignment and increases tendon strength and resilience.
3. Extremity and Spinal Adjustments
Tennis elbow isn't always just about the elbow. Our targeted adjustments help:
- Improve joint mechanics in the elbow, wrist, and shoulder
- Reduce stress on irritated tendons
- Ensure proper nerve function to the affected area
- Address compensatory patterns that may have developed
Prevention Strategies for Ankeny Residents
Whether you're working at your computer, enjoying a round of golf at Briarwood, or tackling home projects, these tips can help prevent tennis elbow:
- Take frequent breaks from repetitive activities
- Use proper ergonomics at your workstation
- Strengthen forearm muscles with specific exercises
- Stretch before and after activities
- Use proper technique during sports and work tasks
- Consider a counterforce brace during high-risk activities
Why Our Patients Choose Feel Good Chiropractic
Our Ankeny patients appreciate our approach to tennis elbow because:
- We target both immediate pain relief AND long-term healing
- Our treatment plans are based on your specific needs, not cookie-cutter protocols
- We combine traditional chiropractic techniques with cutting-edge technology
- Our affordable self-pay options mean quality care without insurance hassles
- We focus on getting you back to the activities you love
Ready to Overcome Your Tennis Elbow?
Don't let elbow pain limit your life or work. Whether you're eager to return to your favorite activities, need to perform at your job without pain, or simply want to pour a cup of coffee without wincing, we're here to help.
Book your new patient exam today and take the first step toward pain-free movement. Same-day appointments are often available for those in urgent need of relief—right here in Ankeny.
Dr. Isaiah Petersen is a Doctor of Chiropractic at Feel Good Chiropractic & Wellness in Ankeny, IA. With specialized training in extremity adjustments and rehabilitative exercises, he helps patients overcome tennis elbow and other musculoskeletal conditions with a comprehensive, natural approach.
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