Physicians Plus, Active Release Techniques® and Tennis Elbow

Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)

The elbow is comprised of an articulation of three bones, the humerus, ulna and radius.  The lateral epicondyle is the most lateral aspect of the humerus where there is a common muscular insertion point of the forearm extensors.

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is a condition that is associated with repetitive motions most commonly occurring through sports or occupation.  This repetitive motion causes small tears in the tissues surrounding the lateral epicondyle of humerus.  Initially starting as a mild discomfort then slowly building into a chronic pain that will not resolve with each subsequent tear and repair. This process is called cumulative tissue disorder or CTD.  CTD is a process of chronic inflammation that develops over time.

Let's look at the CTD process in several steps:

Step 1: overworking and micro-tears to the tissue leads to weak and tight tissues which over time develop friction, pressure and tension on the area.

Step 2: Friction, pressure and tension reduces the circulation to the area leading to adhesions/fibrosis of the tissues.

Step 3: Repeated step one with overworked and micro-tears to the tissues.

What becomes important in the CTD is to break the cycle and repair the tissues.  Lengthening and breaking up fibrosis and adhesions in the tissues will interrupt the cycle.  Active Release Techniques® has clinically been proven to be the most effective at breaking the CTD inflammatory cycle rapidly and effectively.

For more information about Active Release Techniques® (ART®), Tennis Elbow or related conditions, contact Physicians Plus by visiting our website at www.TheSportDocs.com or call us at 773-FIT-0033.