Tendinitis of the Elbows
Friends, Mr. V and Mr. H, who preferred golf, scheduled regular tee times. These weekly activities kept them feeling young and fit, until about the time they turned 45 and both developed elbow pain. Why did they?
Unfortunately, as we age, we lose muscle strength as well as flexibility, which results in decreased wrist flexion and extension. Chronic tendonitis of the elbow is more commonly developed from 40-55 years of age than in younger athletes and caused by forceful repetitive motion, like with swinging a racket or golf club.
Golfer’s and tennis elbow seem almost endemic in golf and tennis clubs. Even though these conditions are quite similar, tennis elbow is caused by repetitive micro trauma to the extensor tendons of the forearm, while golfer’s elbow affects the flexor tendons.
The two muscle groups that extend from our wrist to our elbow are: the extensor muscle group, which is attached to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus (bony prominence on the outside of the elbow), and the flexor muscle group, attached to the medial epicondyle of the humerus (bony prominence on the inside of the elbow). Generally, repeated forceful contractions of these muscles, initiated by wrist flinging, can produce tendonitis, causing constant localized pain from the elbow down the outer or inner forearm. At times, pain can be so severe that even holding a coffee cup, carrying a bag, or shaking someone’s hand is unbearable.
When you hit a backhand, the racket usually absorbs most of the impact of the ball. However, the forearm muscle, especially when poor technique is used or if in poor physical condition, absorbs most of the impact, straining the extensor tendon of the elbow. For golfers, repetitive wrist and forearm flexion along with improper technique and poor muscle condition when swinging the club strains the flexor tendon of the elbow. In both cases, secondary
inflammation may occur and become chronic due to continued overuse or misuse of the extensor and flexor tendons. Interestingly, many other activities can cause tennis or golfers’ elbow, like bowling, excessive writing or wrapping, and repeated throwing, such as with baseballs and frisbees.
Initial treatment for both tennis and golfer’s elbow should include a combination of NSAIDs and physical therapy, along with local hot and cold pack applications, counter braces, and technique instruction. Acute cases can even be resolved after a corticosteroid injection into the affected tendon. Finally, repetitive activity that may aggravate your condition should be, if not avoided, at least decreased.
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A deep dive into musculoskeletal pain…
In this book, Dr. Tsai aims to offer readers a wider and deeper view of osteoarthritis, soft tissue rheumatism, and osteoporosis. Musculoskeletal pain is very common, but often misdiagnosed, and, therefore, treatment can be misguided. Not all pain should be dismissed as osteoarthritis, as several other conditions exist that may be the source of pain. To clarify the subtleties of this issue to readers and health providers, Dr. Tsai grouped the chapters anatomically and emphasized the similarities and differences of their symptoms, unique locations, and different treatment options. The main goal of this book is to help prevent patients and healthcare providers from being misguided by relying on X-ray, CT scan, and MRI findings alone.
This book is broken into three parts:
Part 1 focuses on the causes and symptoms of osteoarthritis and soft tissue rheumatism. Topics are organized anatomically, discussing OA and soft tissue rheumatism in various sections of the body.
Part 2 lists some treatment options for osteoarthritis, including pharmacological treatments, dietary supplements, exercise, and regenerative treatments.
Part 3 discusses osteoporosis, going through causes, symptoms, and treatment options.
Osteoarthritis, Soft Tissue Rheumatism, & Osteoporosis was written to be easily read by anyone, no matter their level of medical knowledge. Additionally, several illustrations are included to help visualize concepts and make them easier to grasp.
This book can be purchased online as an eBook or as a physical copy at our main office at the checkout desk or over the phone.
Arthritis, Autoimmune Disorders, & Allergy
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Dr. Tsai organizes several of these articles together to discuss common arthritis, autoimmune, and allergy conditions. The goal of this book is to help those who may be suffering from arthritis, autoimmune disorders, or allergies gain a better understanding of what they’re feeling and how their condition may be treated.
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For several years, Dr. Tsai has been writing bi-weekly medical columns for The Daytona Beach News-Journal. In this book, Dr. Tsai organizes several of these articles together to discuss common arthritis, autoimmune, and allergy conditions. The goal of this book is to help those who may be suffering from arthritis, autoimmune disorders, or allergies gain a better understanding of what they’re feeling and how their condition may be treated.
This book is broken into three parts:
Part 1 focuses on inflammatory arthritis conditions and their treatments. These include rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. (For information about osteoarthritis, check out Dr. Tsai’s second book:
Osteoarthritis, Soft Tissue Rheumatism, & Osteoporosis)
Part 2 looks at some autoimmune disorders and analyzes their causes, symptoms, and treatments.
Topics in this section include lupus and vasculitis.
Part 3 discusses allergies. The section explains types of allergic reactions, how they work, types of allergies, and how they can be treated.
Arthritis, Autoimmune Disorders, & Allergy was written to be easily read by anyone, no matter their level of medical knowledge. Additionally, several illustrations and photos are included to help visualize concepts and make them easier to grasp.
This book can be purchased online as an eBook or as a physical copy at our main office at the checkout desk or over the phone.