TENS application for tennis elbow

Man lifts up his little daughter. Something like this is difficult with tennis elbow because of the severe pain when stretching the arms. A TENS device can relieve the pain.

Tennis elbow, or tennis elbow, is when the outside of the elbow is inflamed. Swelling occurs at the tendon attachments. Those affected can no longer fully stretch the elbow joint and there is a feeling of weakness in the wrist. The strength in the hand decreases and lifting objects or grasping them causes pain. Tennis elbow or tennis elbow is also known as epicondylitis. To protect yourself from overloading the forearm muscles, you can use EMS training to strengthen the muscles.

Using a TENS unit on tennis elbow can help relieve the pain. The adhesive electrodes transmit the stimulation current impulses to the nerves. This prevents the nerves from transmitting the pain stimulus to the brain. Another effect of electrical stimulation therapy is the stimulation of the body to release endorphins[1]. These are endogenous pain-relieving hormones. In addition, blood circulation can be promoted by a TENS treatment[2].

TENS electrode placement for tennis elbow

For the treatment of tennis elbow we recommend the 5x5 cm electrodes. The electrodes are also suitable for EMS muscle training. Attach the electrodes as shown.

Buy the appropriate electrode now

  • This guide is for orientation purposes and does not replace the supervision of a doctor or therapist. Please follow the warnings and safety instructions of your device. Changes and errors are possible.

  • Number inside the circle: Channel number

    Circle color: Red = Electrode 1, Black = Electrode 2

The recommended programs for axion TENS devices

*The STIM-PRO Eco is a manual TENS device. If you have not received parameter settings from your therapist, please use a frequency range between 70 and 120 Hz (burst mode 2 Hz) and a pulse width range between 150 µs and 200 µs.

Please note when using TENS:

The intensity should be adjusted so that it is felt as a pleasant tingling sensation. The duration of the application should be approx. 40 minutes in order to be able to achieve a lasting reduction in pain. It also makes sense to switch programs every now and then.

How is tennis elbow formed?

Tennis elbow is usually the painful result of one-sided or excessive strain. The cause does not necessarily have to be tennis. Other sports can also cause this pain, as can manual work.

The most common causes include

 

  • tennis, rowing or strength training
  • Manual work such as painting, carpentry
  • lifting heavy loads
  • Playing the piano or playing another instrument
  • Work at the computer or at the supermarket checkout

 

For a long time it was assumed that tennis elbow caused the symptoms due to the inflammation of the muscles. Today it is more likely that the overload leads to the smallest injuries in the muscles.

 

Where is the pain in tennis elbow?

If the insertion of the muscle tendons in the outer area of ​​the elbow hurts, then you may have tennis elbow. However, the pain can radiate down the entire arm. For some sufferers, the pain only occurs when moving or touching, but it occurs even with simple exertion. If tennis elbow is advanced, even lifting a cup can be painful. It is difficult to grip properly and often the pain only subsides in the resting position. If, on the other hand, the pain is on the inside of the elbow, it could also be a so-called golfer's elbow, which is treated in a very similar way to tennis elbow.

 

What helps with tennis elbow?

The goal of treatment is to relieve pain while restoring mobility. However, it is usually most helpful to avoid the very movement that is causing the pain. But that does not mean that the arm should be kept still. Certain forearm strengthening exercises can help relieve the discomfort. Manual therapy by the physiotherapist is also promising. The doctor may prescribe pain relievers to provide short-term relief. The administration of cortisone injections also appears promising. Nevertheless, it is of course always better to get the problem under control without side effects. Therefore, treatment with a TENS device is a good idea. You can easily treat tennis elbow yourself at home - if used correctly, without side effects and without regular visits to the doctor or physiotherapist. With the help of the appropriate electrodes, which are glued directly to the arm, the TENS device sends impulses to the nerves, whereby the pain is suppressed. The result is simple and the method promising.

 

How long does it take for tennis elbow to heal?

If you suffer from tennis elbow, you need one thing above all: patience. It is believed that healing can take several months to a year. But there is also good news: the conservative method is sufficient for most sufferers. If you have a TENS device available and use it regularly, the problem can be solved after a few weeks. And above all, TENS therapy has one important effect: you relieve the pain without any medication or side effects.

Video tutorial for TENS application for tennis elbow

Watch video on Youtube

The advantages of pain treatment with TENS

  • From everywhere

    You can use TENS therapy anywhere. It doesn't matter whether you're sitting comfortably on the sofa or in the office.

  • Drug free

    TENS pain therapy is an alternative to drug pain treatment

  • At any time

    You can use TENS flexibly and at any time. Success can already be achieved after the first treatment

  • Free of side effects

    When used correctly, pain treatment with TENS has practically no side effects

Studies and scientific sources

[1] Ortu, E., Pietropaoli, D., Mazzei, G., Cattaneo, R., Giannoni, M., & Monaco, A. (2015). TENS effects on salivary stress markers: A pilot study. International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, 114-118. https://doi.org/10.1177/0394632015572072

[2] Cramp, Gilsenan, Lowe & Walsh. (2000). The effect of high- and low-frequency transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation upon cutaneous blood flow and skin temperature in healthy subjects. Clinical Physiology, 20(2), 150-157. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2281.2000.00240.x

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