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Special Topics Losing your Grip - Tennis ElbowAre you Losing Your Grip? I mean this literally. Do you find things slip out of your fingers? When you empty the dishwasher do you drop or nearly drop plates? Do you find writing with a pen or pencil uncomfortable? This is often an early sign of tennis elbow (or golfers elbow). Later the pain will be more obvious around the elbow. Causes of some of the most painful cases I have treated recently include:
Most of the muscles that work the wrist and fingers are in the forearms. It is when these muscles get out of balance with each other that problems begin. Sometimes you can feel an early problem as a juddering sensation when you touch your forearm muscles while bending your wrist up and down.
Common things that provoke this problem include:
The initial stiffness in the fingers and hands can progress to pain in the thumb and pain at the upper forearm near the elbow. Pain at the outer elbow is called "tennis elbow", pain at the inner elbow is called "golfer's elbow". The good news is that both conditions are treatable, and the sooner the better with acupuncture and remedial exercise. Acupuncture and remedial exercise are very effective treatments. Massage can also be helpful when overuse of the gripping muscles has caused them to contract and tighten. Some people find arm and wrist supports helpful. |
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Bill Ferguson |
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© Bill Ferguson |
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