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October is Physical Therapy Month!

Physical Therapy and Tennis

 

Physical Therapy is an effective treatment option, and helps to improve quality of life, manage pain and chronic disease, recover from injury and maximize movement.

 

Physical therapists are movement experts who treat people of all ages and abilities to improve their physical function and fitness. We work with you to develop strategies and treatment plans to achieve your fitness, wellness, and sport-specific goals.

 

Lindy and Adam are both former Division I tennis players and Doctors of Physical Therapy. As movement experts, they provide comprehensive full body injury risk assessments on and off the court to tennis players in the San Diego area. This assists in preventing common injuries and/or rehabilitating current aches and pains.

 

Common tennis injuries include:

* elbow tendinitis/pain
* patellar tendinitis
* ankle sprain
* rotator cuff tendinitis

 

Have you ever experienced elbow pain while playing tennis, golf, or any type of racket sport?
Read on as we address two of the most common elbow conditions.

 

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis), is a painful condition of the elbow caused by overuse or repetitive wrist extension activities. Wrist extension activities include: excessive typing, performing tennis backhand motion, and performing household chores such as dusting or window washing.  True tennis elbow is acute inflammation of the wrist extensor muscle tendon junction as it attaches to the bone. The tendon becomes damage from overuse and leads to pain with active wrist and elbow movements. This pathology can turn into a chronic condition known as Lateral Epicondylosis which degeneration of the tendon without the natural inflammatory process.  This can lead to thickening and scarring of the tendon causing it to break down.

 

Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis), is a painful condition of the elbow caused by repetitive wrist flexion activities or gripping activities.  Similar to Tennis Elbow, there is localized acute inflammation of the common wrist flexor tendon as it attaches to medial epicondyle of the elbow. Activities of daily living that can increase symptoms are: shaking hands, turning a doorknob, or lifting weights.

 

Both conditions can get worse without proper treatment or if ignored can turn into a chronic pathology. Physical therapy is proven to be able to successfully treat these two pathologies and allow for return to normal activities much quicker and prevent them from returning.

 

For stretches and exercises to prevent and heal tennis and golfer’s elbow, check out this video!

 

Innovative Physical Therapy, “Solutions in Motion”

 

You can give us a call at 619-260-0750 or email us at info@innovativept.net