San Diego Personal Trainer’s Holistic Approach for Treatment of Painful Medical Epicondylitis

San Diego Personal Trainer’s Holistic Approach for Treatment of Painful Medical Epicondylitis

Medial Epicondylitis is an often debilitating condition, that personal fitness trainers can expect to see when training clients, especially men. Medial epicondylitis (ME) is a tendon injury acquired from perpetual overuse of the forearm flexor muscles especially when gripping heavily a bar or a weight. The result is a severe ache or burning sensation to the medial or inside aspect of the elbow joint or humerus. Often the pain becomes so excruciating that resting the elbows on a padded surface like a preacher bench can be very painful.The tendinosis that occurs is a direct result of failure of the damaged tendon to heal due to perpetual abuse. As President and medical exercise specialist of Somagenesis Health and Fitness in San Diego, I am constantly confronted with male clients, who experience intermittent bouts of medial epicondylitis from doing too much too soon. It is imperative that the fitness specialist have a basic understanding of the sign and symptoms of epicondylitis.

Cause of Medial Epicondylitis are:

Repetitive use of flexor-pronator muscle at the medial epicondyle.
Can be related to the individuals occupation, if the job required repetitive movements such as hammering, screwing or lifting.
Can be the result of an acute injury or accident.
Excessive grip tension, a bad golf swing, poor throwing or swinging action as in baseball or tennis.

Conventional Treatment Choices:

In my opinion, the more holistic the treatment, the better. If you chance it, and choose see an orthopedic surgeon, be prepared to have a radiography of the elbow to rule out lesions or avulsions of bony material. It all about generating extra income into the hospitals and clinics. Following the interpretation of the film by the Radiologist, the Orthopedist will usually prescribe a non-steroidal or steroidal anti inflammatory pill or injection. Although this reduces the inflammatory aspect of the injury, it will retard the healing process of the soft and tendinous tissue. In addition NSAIDS and steroids can affect other body systems. Why take a chance?

Holistic Treatment Choices:

Treatment should begin with the application of ice to the elbow 3-4 times per day the quiet down the heat and inflammatory response. Remember calor or heat, impedes the body’s healing process.

Begin muscle/tendon reconditioning program. This begins with gradual stretching of the flexor-pronator muscles. Be gentle or risk re-injury. This should be performed 12 times to warm up the muscles and increase flexibility before engaging in strength training or other activities

Begin strengthening program. Start with isometric exercise and then transition to eccentric strength movements. Forearm flexion and extension movements should be emphasized. Be sure to gradually increase the work load or resistance. If a relapse occurs then cut back on the offending exercises.
Always ice at least 5 to 10 minutes following the exercise, to quiet down the cell and flare.

If you exhibit pain during normal activities of daily living, that back off on your rehab for 48 hours. Be smart and know when to call it quits with conventional rehab systems. There may be a more serious underlying medical situation such as a bone spur, complete tendon rupture or broken bone. If this is the suspected case then be sure to contact your physician for further medical evaluation.

In summary, most cases mild to moderate cases of medial or lateral epicondylitis are very manageable orthopedic anomalies. The best treatment is simply doing the least invasive therapy, versus medicine or surgery. Should you have any questions regarding treatment plans or prevention of epicondylitis, contact the experts at Somagenesis Health and Fitness today for a complimentary assessment and exercise prescription.