Active Release Technique for Tennis Elbow
Rest your elbow – give it complete rest (goes the popular lore for treating tennis elbow). Well – I gave it complete rest. Not tennis, no golf, not even hours on my computer (only used touch screen devices).
In addition, spent months and months on conventional physiotherapy. I know every stretch/exercise ever invented for the elbow, arm and upper body.I could write a book. It would be useless though – cause all those exercises, while somewhat strengthening in nature, did nothing to lessen the pain – or cure the tendonitis. My case is not unique (a little googling will reveal cases of no-progress tennis elbow for months and months – and years on end).
Having pretty much tried everything (every ointment, every pill, every accu thing – pressure, puncture…), I was fairly disillusioned at the entire medical profession. Having seen no less than 6 orthopedics and 4 top-notch physical therapy clinics, I had lost all faith.
My brain kept saying – ‘It can’t be THAT hard – it’s just some overused tendons/muscles close to the elbow. How hard can it be to fix that’? So – I refused to give up – and kept exploring. That’s how I came across Active Release. Once again, going in with full skepticism – since every previously ‘highly recommended’ therapy had flopped miserably (miserably – because there after all the physical therapy and home exercises, there was less than a 20% improvement in the major symptoms).
I went to Dr. Zalinsky in Austin – a guy who specializes in Active Release Therapy – and sports injuries in particular.
His basic approach was very matter of fact ‘Yes- I’ve seen this a lot – and yes, let me first see if I can fix it.’
By now, I had become a complete skeptic when it came to anyone promising fixes. He did something next that completely changed my skepticism.
He pressed my eblow in a few tender spots, asked me to move (stretch) my arm in a few directions. First time, no result. He changes the point he is pushing – and asks me to stretch again.
No result again. This continues for about 5 minutes. Finally, he pushes a point on the opposite side of the elbow (one that wasn’t even hurting) – asks me to stretch – and I can instantly feel something correcting itself inside (even though it hurt like hell).
Now, he asks me to move my arm around. Almost no pain! Way better!. We repeated the process on the same point – and the pain was way better. It had magically subsided – although both of us knew that the relief may not be permanent – and that I would have to return.
Nevertheless, this was the first time (in months) – that someone had successfully used manual techniques (or any techniques) to produce an immediate reduction of pain.
‘Yes – we can help you’ he concluded after his 5 minute experiment. ‘It may take 2 sessions, it may take 4 to 6, but we can help you.’
In just two sessions, my pain was reduced by 50%, I was lifting things twice as heavy as before and not feeling the twinge. This is what my brain had being saying to me all along ‘It CANNOT be that hard. There has to be some way to fix this without waiting for 12 months!’
Active Release’s approach goes against the grain. ‘Resting’ the elbow will accomplish nothing – since there is something chronically pushing against a nerve (a muscle pulling/pushing on a nerve), that is not going to quit by itself. This pushing/pulling point has to be located – and then straightened out. Unless that is done, no amount of rest will straighten it out on its own.
I really do not claim to understand how it all works – all I know is that it works.
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Hi Anuj
John Poole from Brisbane, Australia. Have suffered severe tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) for 4 months. Have played tennis for 50 yers (i’m 59) with never an elbow twinge until I lifted a heavy weight on Feb 7 this year and bingo – tennis elbow pain. No more tennis from that date – cannot grip anything, cannot shave without pain, cannot pick up jugs etc without severe pain. Have tried cortisone injection, 2 physiotherapists, 2 acupuncturists, sports masseur, eccentric weight program, flexbar exercises, oral nsaids, topical nsaid gels, penetrex – all with no relief. Am booked in for a PRP injection on Monday June 24 and hopefully that will start the healing process. However, if that fails, I’m interested in ART. There are practioners here in Brisbane so that may be my next call. Where on your elbow did he press that gave you instant relief? Is it easy to explain or are you aware of a link to a video that shows that particular pressure/trigger point?
Cheers, John
John: am sorry to hear about your TE. The loss of strength is perfectly normal – and takes a while to come back.
With ART, a good practitioner should try various points and ( after massaging) ask you to move your arm around ( e.g door opening movement, tennis backhand movement). These movements should be less painful( in a very obvious way) – after the treatment.
For me, surprisingly, it Was on the flexor side ( the palm side) of my forearm. That typically affects golfer’s elbow – not TE – but somehow those muscles were super stiff – and ‘releasing ‘ them helped.
Magnesium oil – is another wondrous thing for relaxing stiff muscles. Worked better than any ointment I tried. Also – a topical Creme containing Glucosamine, Chronditin and MSM provides instant relief.
Anuj
I just want to say thank you! I am struggling with tennis elbow in both arms….yeah I know, crazy. It has been well over a year, and also have tried every cream, bandage, doctor, pill, stretch, ice, heat, acupuncture, etc. Thank you for all your free info…most I have tried and some I havent, but intend too.
Any idea of a good ART specialist in India , preferably Poona or Bombay?