Tennis Elbow Classroom

Thumb pain: Mothers and fathers get it from picking up babies… Smartphone users, gamers, percussionists, golfers and anglers get it, too! – But it's not a SIMPLE case of Tendonitis. It's a more complicated tendon syndrome known as 'De Quervain's Tenosynovitis' – Here's what that is and how it develops

‘Fluoroquinolone' antibiotics are unfortunately notorious for causing tendon damage – including Golfer's and Tennis Elbow and, more seriously, Achilles Tendon ruptures. (Cipro being the most well-known and often prescribed drug in this class)

How some tendon tears (focusing on Tennis Elbow & Golfer's Elbow) can be healed with minimally-invasive alternatives like PRP, Stem Cell Injections, Tenex, TenJet etc – And, in some milder damage cases, possibly without any medical interventions, at all.

Should you get an MRI if you’ve been suffering from Tennis Elbow or Golfer’s Elbow for some time? – Do you need an MRI for diagnosis? When is the right time to ask for one, and once you've had it what do the results actually mean? (And are there any decent alternatives?)

How does casting and reeling sometimes end up causing so much pain? Here's how to better understand and treat frustrating, painful fishing-related elbow overuse injuries, AKA, 'Angler's Elbow' - And avoid the common mistakes that can impede your recovery.

What's the best position to sleep in when you have Tennis or Golfer's Elbow? Should your elbow be straight or bent? Is it a good idea to wear a brace in bed or not? – (IS it actually possible to get a good nights sleep with a bad case of Tennis Elbow!?)

In this podcast episode I interview Andrew Furmanczyk, a piano and music educator. Andrew joins me to share his Golfer's Elbow recovery story, ponder the dilemma of injured piano players, and offer treatment and prevention tips to hurting pianists or those who are concerned about potential pain and injury.

As a pianist, is there anything worse than being injured? Repetitive Strain Injuries are the bane of piano players worldwide: Tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, DeQuervain's, CTS – as well as Golfer's and Tennis Elbow. Here's the missing link to treatment, in many cases.

Should you use a brace to treat your Tennis Elbow? If so, what's the best kind – and when should you wear it? Although there's a time and place for supports, here's how they can potentially slow your Tennis or Golfer's Elbow recovery – and why you have to choose carefully if healing is your top priority!

Should you use ice therapy to treat your Tennis Elbow? Actually, no! – "But what about the inflammation?… All the medical websites and authorities say I should ice my elbow to reduce inflammation, because it's Tendonitis! Could they all be wrong?" Hint: Inflammation isn't the problem.

Overuse Sports Injuries are common among all kinds of cyclists, hence terms like “Mountain Bikers Elbow” and “Motocross Elbow.” Here's how to treat and beat these injuries (which are usually Golfer's or Tennis Elbow, technically) including bike fit and alignment tips for various bike types!

Is swimming good or bad for Tennis Elbow or Golfer's Elbow? (Does it cause or aggravate it?) And could swimming possibly be a good rehab exercise – Especially if swimming didn't cause it? (OR should you definitely stop swimming until your injury heals?)

Could Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy be an effective, new Tennis Elbow treatment - A breakthrough, even? - Or is it actually an expensive, unproven fad, driven by rock star-athlete publicity and questionable medical studies?

Do you have Mouse Elbow?… Pain in your elbow, wrist or hand – due to your laptop, tablet or phone use? – Use these ten Ergonomic and self-help treatment tactics to break your computer-related pain and injury cycle! Including a video on 3 KEY Ergonomic Tips.

Inflammation – It’s the ultimate sacred cow of Tennis Elbow! (A.K.A. Lateral Epicondylitis or Elbow Tendonitis) - And if you’re still treating, fighting or worrying about it – Here’s why you’re wasting your time. (What medical researches first started discovering DECADES ago.)

If you have Guitar Elbow, don't fret it! Here's how to treat the real, underlying muscular causes of your injury – and keep playing your guitar, whether you have Tennis Elbow, Golfer's Elbow or a wrist or finger tendon injury.

Is there such a thing as Pickleball Elbow or is your Pickleball injury pain likely either Tennis Elbow or Golfer's Elbow? – Learn the right way to treat and heal it yourself, either way – And discover why the standard treatments of pills, shots, ice, braces and creams are NOT the answer!

Lotions, creams, sprays and medicated anti-inflammatory gels are often used to treat Tennis and Golfer's Elbow symptoms – But can these topical remedies help you heal your injured tendons – Or are they just going to rub you the wrong way?

Dry Needling refers to two techniques used to treat Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow. One uses Acupuncture Needles to treat Trigger Points in muscles, and the other uses Hypodermic Needles to stimulate a healing response in dysfunctional tendons.

Proffered as THE quick fix cure for Tennis Elbow, research suggests Cortisone injections are highly effective for treating elbow tendon pain – But only in the short term! – In the long term it's all bad news, unfortunately. Learn why these shots should be avoided at all costs.

Is Acupuncture an effective treatment when it comes to encouraging Tennis Elbow healing – Or is it simply a good, safe, non-toxic way to temporarily relieve the symptoms? (Evidence suggests it may help relieve the pain – But the big question is “Will Acupuncture help you heal?”)

Who are the true experts and authorities when it comes to Golfer's and Tennis Elbow treatment? Are they Doctors? Surgeons? Physical Therapists? (Or could they be the practitioners who work on muscles and tendons by hand?)

Herbs, nutrients, collagen, fish oil, omega 3s – What about Glucosamine and MSM? Here are the only two Vitamins you'll likely need to help heal your Golfer's or Tennis Elbow and why the rest are useless junk and a total waste of your money!

Learn why Advanced Massage Therapy Techniques are the best way to treat your own Tennis Elbow or Golfer's Elbow, and discover the most powerful self-massage methods to use – Straight from an experienced, professional Neuromuscular Massage Therapist, who treats these injuries every day.

Why clinical Physical Therapy treatments often don't help Tennis Elbow sufferers recover - The typical P.T. 'Modalities' involved, and the key part that's often missing - And how you can do your own rehab more effectively at home!

How long does it take to fully recover from a Tennis Elbow injury? Some injuries seem to only take weeks to heal, while others take months or even years – Why is that?... And is there a way to speed up your healing process?

It's that time of year again... T-shirts, tee times and tennis rackets – Most call it spring – but it's also Tennis Elbow Season! Here are the early warning signs of Tennis Elbow to watch for, what to do if you start feeling them – And how seriously to take them.

If you have a stubborn, chronic case of Golfer's or Tennis Elbow, when is it 'time' to start thinking about surgery? – Here are five key things to consider, including whether you're a good candidate, the risks, recovery time and whether you've "tried everything!"

Does your elbow hurt from taking too many selfie pics? (And texting or using your ipad?) You may have a "new" type of Tech Injury, many are starting to call "Selfie Elbow" – But, is this Selfie Elbow really a new medical condition, or is it just the repetitive actions causing it that are new? (Hint: It's actually Tennis Elbow – So, let's treat that!)

A look at golf magazine websites, medical studies and surveys, suggests that golfers not only get Tennis Elbow, they actually suffer this condition more often than Golfer's Elbow! (Why is Tennis Elbow a more common golf injury?)

Is it really necessary (for the sake of healing) to stop playing tennis or golf when you have Tennis Elbow?... Or is it sometimes okay to "play through it" IF you’re careful? – (And, if you do need to take time off from the court or course, when is it safe to start playing again?)

Which upper-body strength-training exercises should you avoid, stop or modify when you have a Golfer's or Tennis Elbow injury? - Should you use dumbbells or barbells? What about muscle isolation? Is it better to do more 'general' exercises or be more 'targeted' and specific?

Should you continue to lift weights or do upper-body strength-training exercises if you have a Tennis Elbow injury? - What if that injury was caused by weight lifting in the first place? (Or what if it was from playing tennis or golf - Or computer use OR heavy physical work?)

Is Eccentric Exercise the latest, greatest thing in Tennis Elbow rehab? And is the “rubber bar” device used to do it an essential tool in Tennis Elbow treatment, Physical Therapy and self-help exercise programs – OR just another hyped-up gimmicky fad you don't really need?

The three best exercises for Tennis Elbow rehabilitation, which ones to begin strengthening with – and how taking the “Indirect Approach” may be the smartest way to start your rehab program safely and effectively!

They usually say “You should rest it” when you have Tennis Elbow, but this may not be the best treatment advice. Learn why tendons need a lot more than just rest and "R.I.C.E." – And why they don't necessarily heal themselves while you're resting, hoping and waiting!

There are three essential goals to exercise when rehabilitating from a Tennis Elbow injury, but is there a perfect exercise formula? And should exercise really be your top priority when treating your Tennis Elbow?

Exercises for Tennis Elbow are easy enough to learn – The hard part is knowing when to do them. Done at the right time, exercises should help your recovery – But, done at the wrong time, they can make your injury worse.