Acupuncture for tennis elbow and
golfers elbow in London
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are both overuse injuries affecting the tendons around the elbow. Tennis elbow usually causes pain on the outside of the elbow, while golfer’s elbow is felt more on the inside, but the pattern is similar: pain with gripping, lifting, twisting, using tools, carrying bags, typing, racquet sports, golf, or repeated strain through the wrist and forearm. Tennis elbow is common, affecting around 1–3% of adults each year, and despite the name, most cases are not caused by tennis.
From a Western point of view, these conditions are usually described as tendon overload or tendinopathy caused by repeated strain. Chinese medicine looks at them a little differently, distinguishing between different patterns of pain rather than treating every elbow the same way. In one person the area may be tight, inflamed and irritable after overuse; in another it may be more chronic, stiff and slow to recover. Treatment is adjusted accordingly, with the aim of improving circulation through the area, reducing pain and helping the tissue recover more effectively.
How Acupuncture,massage and Moxibustion May
Help with neck and shoulder pain
In clinic, acupuncture can work very well for both tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow, especially when pain has become stubborn or keeps flaring with everyday use. Treatment can be often combined with massage and soft tissue work to reduce tension through the forearm, ease strain on the tendon attachment and improve movement through the whole arm. That combination is often more effective than relying on one approach alone.
The research on acupuncture for lateral epicondylitis shows that a 2020 systematic review found that acupuncture appeared to improve pain and function compared with some control treatments.
Treatment is guided by the severity of the pain, the movements that aggravate it, how long it has been there, and whether the problem is acute and inflamed or more chronic and degenerative. The aim is to reduce pain, improve function and help the elbow settle properly so that the problem does not keep returning.
“I cannot recommend Deborah highly enough. I came to see her for acupuncture for Tennis Elbow which had become excruciating. After the first session the reduction in the swelling was extraordinary and has improved hugely with each treatment. As I write this, I realise I haven’t taken any painkillers for 2 days!!!!! Deborah is an amazing woman, highly skilled but also full of empathy, kindness and many wise words.”
Sophie Walker - London
Further Reading
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