Tennis Elbow, Anyone?

A breakthrough therapy for folks with tennis elbow.

Comments

[Stephanie "the Ice Pick"]

Dayum... TM is a mindreader and all around marvel.

I sat home all day as the skies were a beautiful blue. I evidently can't play 27 holes a day for 4 days without revealing my advancing years - and then woosh - TM goes and finds a treatment for this elbow pain and I don't even have to go to the doctor...

shhhh.... the dems'll be coming after him for their cut of the consulting fees...

Thanks TM, most sincerely!

[Charlie (Colorado)]

That's interesting. Someone — a chiropractor, maybe? — long ago suggested using a rubber band around my fingers to strengthen the muscles that open the fingers in orde to help my chronic hand issues. (I type maybe 14 hours a day, and that's on a day off.)

Worked like a charm.

That's eccentric contraction of the typing muscles, I do believe.

[Buford Gooch]

Chaco, more info, please. Exactly how was the rubber band placed and used?

[daddy]

Not trying to be a bummer, but does anybody remember the name of the classical pianist in the 1800's who destroyed his ability to play because of an unorthodox exercise regimen he followed to strengthen his fingers. Can't remember his name, but believe he switched to composing and his wife became the famous pianist in the family.

[daddy]

Interesting. While googling trying to find the answer to my question about who destroyed his piano playing ability through harmful exercises, came upon this">http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B05E6D91739E433A25757C0A96E9C946297D6CF">this 1903 New York Times story telling us that because of physical and nervous damage, no child should be allowed to ever play the piano if under the age of 16---especially women.

Obviously if it's scientific and it's in the NYTimes, it must be true.

[daddy]

Aha! ">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Schumann"> Robert Schumann:

"During his studies with Wieck, (1830-1834) Schumann permanently injured his right hand. One suggested cause of this injury is that he damaged his finger by the use of a mechanical device designed to strengthen the weakest fingers, which held back one finger while he exercised the others. Others have suggested that the injury was a side-effect of syphilis medication. A more dramatic suggestion is that in an attempt to increase the independence of his fourth finger, he may have carried out a surgical procedure to separate the tendons of the fourth finger from those of the third. The cause of the injury is not known, but in any event Schumann abandoned ideas of a concert career and devoted himself instead to composition."

And as long as I'm already completely boring everybody on this totally nutty tangent, Charles Darwin's wife's piano teacher, (during her young, single days) was Chopin. Yawn.

[PaulL]

I didn't know either fact, daddy, thanks.

[Jack is Back!]

How did the thread go from tennis elbow to carpal tunnel syndrome? Any hoo, tennis elbow you get from golf and golf elbow you get from tennis. I have had both plus carpal tunnel syndrome.

My hands were freezing up so bad, I couldn't even ride my bike. I thought it was a neck issue from an old surfing tumble but it turned out to be carpal tunnel. Doc asked me to experiment and wear a hand and wrist brace to bed at night since I was constantly waking up with my hands dead. But that is like wearing a catchers mitt to bed. So, I asked if something surgical could be done and he sent me to the hand surgeon for consultation. After been told the procedure which is in and out in 20 minutes - it is microscopic - but with 13 weeks rehab I started to wonder if it was worth it. The clincher was no golf or tennis or biking or lifting wine glasses (kidding about the wine) during that time. As far as tennis elbow goes - I use weights and do hammer curls (turn the dumbell 90 degrees and do heavy bicep curls). I has worked for me and I am pain free playing golf and tennis.

It was that or going to DC to speak to Ezekiel about whether I prefer open or closed casket.

[FeFe]

Thank you. I play tennis, piano and type alot so the comments are great too.

[RW]

Stop masturbatin so much. :)

[hit and run]

You know, http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2009/06/fisking-the-iranian-election.html?cid=6a00d83451b2aa69e201157124014b970b#comment-6a00d83451b2aa69e201157124014b970b>my elbow has gotten a lot better than it was back in June.

I've done nothing after a couple weeks of compression. Maybe you could make the case that I've "rested" it -- but that's just a consequence of a generally sedentary life-style.

But it did hurt during golf yesterday (itself evidence of how far it's come, I wouldn't have dreamed of golfing a couple months ago), and I've never fully regained my strength and flexibility.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, "I find your views on tennis elbow intriguing and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter"

[Boatbuilder]

Hit--I believe that your adherence to a strict regimen of 12-ounce curls may have done the trick. Works for me.

[hit and run]

You're absolutely right, Boatbuilder.

And the nice thing about 12 ounce curls is that your reps get increasingly lighter during a set...11 ounces, 10 ounces, 8 ounces, 5 ounces, 2 ounces, empty bottle/can/mug/glass.

Then between sets you rest, pee, and then repeat.

[JM Hanes]

I had tennis elbow badly enough that I actually did have trouble lifting a glass from a a table if it weren't directly in front of me. I bought one of those neoprene elbow tubes which I wore for a couple of weeks when doing anything which required much in the way of mobility and/or strength. Perhaps that wouldn't work for someone who has become chronically afflicted, but it might be worth making a precautionary habit of wearing such a sleeve, if you seem to be susceptible. I'm obviously not a doctor, though, so I don't know if there is any downside to doing so.

[daddy]

"I'm obviously not a doctor, though, so I don't know if there is any downside to doing so."

I don't know JMH, it might cause you to start writing music as bad as Schumann.