Elbow and Wrist

Tennis elbow is a painful condition occurring when repetitive motions of the wrist and arm overwork tendons in the elbow.

Causes are due to overuse and muscle strain. Repeated motions and stress to the tissues may result in a series of tiny tears in the tendons attaching the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. Activities leading to causes may include golf, racket sports, throwing sports, weight lifting, or other wrist bearing activities.

Pain associated may radiate from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist. It may be difficult to shake hands, turn a doorknob, or hold a cup.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: Pain that occurs on the outside of the elbow is caused by inhibition of the wrist extensor muscles, inflammation of the periosteal tendon insertions (enthesis) of the extensor muscles (extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris, and extensor digitorum) or over development of the anterior shoulder muscles. Correction of this condition is accomplished by reactivating the extensor muscles and exercising the posterior shoulder muscles.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a progressively painful hand and arm condition caused by a nerve pinched in the wrist.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve. The median nerve runs from the forearm, through a passageway in the wrist (carpal tunnel) to the hand. Anything that crowds irritates or compresses the median nerve can lead to pain.

Pain may include tingling or numbness in fingers and hand, pain radiating or extending from the wrist to the arm and shoulder, or down into palm and fingers, or a sense of weakness in hands.

A.M.I.T. ® Explanation: This condition is caused by falling on the hands, jamming the bones in the wrist, repetitive stress, or trauma to the wrist. This leads to compression of the median nerve by the retinaculum supporting the wrist or the inhibition of the pronator quadrates muscle. The symptom may also be due to irritation of nerve roots in the cervical spine. Manipulating the cervical spine or carpal bones can cause a dramatic change in symptoms without surgery. Correction is achieved by manipulating the bones back into alignment or reactivating the pronator quadrates muscle taking the pressure off the nerve.