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False tennis elbow
In tennis elbow, it hurts on the outside of the elbow. However, this type of pain does not always indicate a real tennis elbow but a so-called false tennis elbow. The pain then originates from some other area of the body than the injury area. For example, tense muscles in the neck and shoulder, nerve entrapment and bursitis can cause similar symptoms.
What is false tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow is basically an overuse of the muscles around the elbow, the ones you use when you grip things and twist your wrist or move your forearm. Therefore, this injury is common in those who play tennis as these muscles are the ones that are strained during a tennis match.
False tennis elbow is a general term for those conditions that cause similar symptoms to tennis elbow but are not tennis elbow. The causes of the symptoms can range from arthritis, overuse of nearby muscles such as the wrist, shin splints, strains, trauma, or other causes of pain around the elbow and forearm.
How do you know if you have false tennis elbow?
Although the symptoms are similar, the causes of true and false tennis elbow are very different. The easiest way to test for true tennis elbow is to press on the outside of the elbow to see if the tendon attachments are tender. The area may also feel warm and swollen. Another way is to strain the extensor muscles of the forearm to see if this triggers pain on the outside of the elbow.
For false tennis elbow, a simple way is to press on specific myofascial (muscular) trigger points to see if they project pain around the elbow. One can also mobilize the joints of the neck to rule out nerve irritation that may radiate pain to the elbow.
Treatment for both real and false tennis elbow at the FasciaClinics
Whether you suffer from real or false tennis elbow, we at the FasciaClinics can help you with your problems. A treatment with us is based on treating the whole body as we see it as a whole. We examine balance and posture in the whole body. If there is an imbalance in the body, it will create an uneven load. An uneven load can spread to and affect the various structures in the body such as muscles, tendons, bones and nerves, far away from the main problem.
A fascia treatment starts the flow in the fascia. When we increase the flow, we make it easier for the body to heal itself. The body also becomes more balanced and even, reducing the risk of recurring problems.
