22 Nov Tennis Elbow Symptoms could be treated with Stem Cell Therapy
Contrary to its name, tennis elbow is not always caused by the sport itself. It can be caused by overuse of the arm and elbow joint through repetitive motions. This condition can make the outside of the elbow feel inflamed and tender, leading to pain during use. Lifting items can become especially difficult for a patient with a tennis elbow. Stem cell therapy is being considered as a treatment for tennis elbow when a patient would like to avoid invasive surgeries.
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is also known as lateral elbow pain, or lateral epicondylitis, and is not necessarily related to the sport of tennis. However, tennis players will often develop the condition because it is caused by repetitive muscle use. Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the tendons that join the muscles of the forearm to the outside of the elbow. It often occurs due to overusing the forearm muscles and tendons and those around the elbow joint. The most common symptom of tennis elbow is recurring pain on the outside of the upper forearm, just below the bend of the elbow. Pain may also be felt further down the arm, towards the wrist. Pain can occur when the individual lifts or bends the arm. It is also felt while performing basic actions, such as writing or when gripping small objects. Tennis elbow can cause pain when twisting the forearm as well. This can be noticeable when turning a door handle or extending the forearm fully.
The cause of tennis elbow stems from repeating incorrect movements of the arm. This can lead to small tears in the tendon attachment at the elbow. In tennis, this translates to the repeated motion and force of hitting a ball with a racquet. Incorrect technique can cause the power in the swing of a racquet to rotate through and around the wrist. This creates a movement on the wrist instead of the elbow joint or shoulder, increasing pressure on the tendon and cause irritation and inflammation. The extensor muscles become painful due to this tendon breakdown. The extensor muscles are those that straighten the wrist. Tennis elbow is also associated with the extension of the fingers and the wrist. This is the kind of movement that allows the person to flick the wrist. To reduce the risk of tennis elbow, it is important to pay attention to movement techniques during exercise or exertion. It is better to spread the load to the larger muscles of the shoulder and upper arm, rather than focus activity on the smaller muscles in the wrist and the elbow. It is also extremely important to stretch and use bracing if it has already been injured.
How Can Stem Cells Treat Tennis Elbow Symptoms?
Stem cells are used in regenerative medicine to help the body naturally with growing newer, healthy tissue. Stem cells can also reduce inflammation in injured areas. In clinical studies, stem cell therapy was found to reduce pain in patients with tennis elbow and provide them with a better range of motion after treatment. These results were after just one injection. Further studies need to be done to fully understand the effectiveness of stem cell therapy on tennis elbow.
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