Elbow Pain When Gripping? It Might Be Tennis Elbow
Despite the name, you don’t have to be the next star at Cockle Bay Tennis Club to get Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis). While we do treat plenty of racquet sport players, we see just as many tradespeople, office workers, and keen summer gardeners suffering from this nagging pain.
What does it feel like?
Pain on the outside of the elbow.
Weakness when gripping (e.g., holding a coffee cup, shaking hands, or turning a door handle).
A burning sensation in the forearm.
Common Causes in East Auckland
Summer Gardening: Repetitive gripping of pruning shears or pulling weeds.
Trades: Excessive screwdriver or hammer use.
Typing: Poor ergonomic setups for those working from home in Howick.
Why Resting Often Fails Tendons have a poor blood supply. Simply resting the arm might settle the pain temporarily, but as soon as you return to the activity, the pain returns. You need to remodel the tendon tissue.
Effective Treatments
Dry Needling: Highly effective for releasing the forearm muscles pulling on the tendon.
Eccentric Loading: Specific strengthening exercises that stimulate tendon repair.
Bracing: We can advise on a counter-force brace to take the load off the injury while you heal.
Shockwave Therapy: Helps to increase blood flow to the area leading to more healing
Ready to get back on the court or into the garden? Book your assessment now.