eSports & Gamers - How to Help Elbow Pain00Are you an eSports athlete or gamer that has experienced pain in your elbow? Have you heard of mouse elbow? If you do have elbow pain, try this program!
Tendon overload is an issue in eSports. As we continue to increase our time gaming, we will increase our risk of injury because the workload has increased. The more we use our fingers and bend our wrist to use a mouse, the risk of developing mouse elbow, commonly referred to as tennis elbow, also increases.
Mouse elbow, or lateral epicondylitis is a common type of elbow pain that appears in eSports, and is usually felt as pain on the outside of the elbow with gripping, or overuse of the fingers/wrist extensor muscles. Lateral epicondylitis affects your wrist extensor group near the tendon and can be associated with loading that exceeds its capacity, leading to breakdown, pain and swelling.
However, this isn’t always as simple as being an elbow issue. Shoulder strength, stability and biomechanics plays a big roll in elbow pain. When your shoulder isn’t functioning optimally, the elbow will try to make up for it, which is commonly what leads to this overloading issue.
[Mechanism of Injury + Affected Tissues]
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is pain that occurs on the outside or lateral side of the elbow. It is usually caused when the tendons that attach at the lateral epicondyle of the elbow are overloaded by repetitive wrist and arm motions.
Tennis elbow usually occurs from overuse and muscle strain of the wrist extensor or forearm muscles (muscles that you use to straighten & raise or extend your hand or wrist. The repetitive motions and overload of the tissue may cause micro tears or tiny tears to the tendons that are attached at the bony prominence (lateral epicondyle) of the outside of your elbow. It is common in people who’s jobs or hobbies feature types of motions that overload the wrist extensors (ie – eSports athletes, tennis players, other racket sports, pianists, painters, plumbers, carpenters, and even some throwing athletes, such as baseball players)
Pain commonly occurs in everyday life with certain movements, such as gripping a coffee cup, turning a doorknob or even shaking someone’s hand.
[Treatment]
Making the proper exercise and ADL modifications to promote pain free activities & movements – ergonomic changes, such as widening the grip of the tool, getting a larger mouse or sport equipment may lessen the stress on the wrist extensors
Massage may have an impact on physiological changes by providing an increase in blood flow, reduction in tissue viscosity, myofascial release, interruption of pain receptors, & an improvement of flexibility of underlying tissue
Kinesiology tape may be used to promote positive blood flow to the area and aid in the removal of wastes and byproducts created by inflammation, assisting in the healing rate of the injury
The use of a compression sleeve during and after sport may also improve blood flow, stabilize the surrounding muscles to prevent stress and strain, as well as reducing swelling & manage pain.
[Healing Timeline]
The University of Michigan Health states that an acute or mild tendon injury may take a few weeks of rest to heal and a severely damaged tendon can take months to mend. Mild soreness in the lateral elbow (that comes and goes) may improve in 6 to 8 weeks. Chronic or prolonged elbow pain & soreness may improve in 6 to 12 months. In some cases, the pain may even last for 2 years or more
Other forms of treatment that your MD may subscribe may include NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines and steroid injections, such as a local anesthetic and a cortisone preparation.
[Stats]
About 200,000 cases of lateral epicondylitis in the US develop each year. The number of cases are increasing with the increase in eSports.
*This does not constitute medical advice. If you have pain or injury please consult a medical profession in person*
Tendon overload is an issue in eSports. As we continue to increase our time gaming, we will increase our risk of injury because the workload has increased. The more we use our fingers and bend our wrist to use a mouse, the risk of developing mouse elbow, commonly referred to as tennis elbow.
Mouse elbow, or lateral epicondylitis is a common type of elbow pain that appears in eSports, and is usually felt as pain on the outside of the elbow with gripping, or overuse of the fingers/wrist extensor muscles. Lateral epicondylitis affects your wrist extensor group near the tendon and can be associated with loading that exceeds its capacity, leading to breakdown, pain and swelling.
However, this isn’t always as simple as being an elbow issue. Shoulder strength, stability and biomechanics plays a big roll in elbow pain. When your shoulder isn’t functioning optimally, the elbow will try to make up for it, which is commonly what leads to this overloading issue.
*This does not constitute medical advice. If you have pain or injury please consult a medical profession in person*
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At Bespoke Treatments we are changing the way people think about and experience physical therapy & performance training. Bespoke’s treatment concept is hand crafted, personal and tailored to stand apart from existing models. Generic treatment protocols, crowded appointments and impersonal attention are out; engaging, personalized and results oriented treatments are in.
Bespoke is fast becoming the the go to bi-costal physical therapy destination for the rehabilitative and performance needs of athletes and discerning individuals. Experience is in the details so every moment at Bespoke is considered. Your Treatments are personal, created for you and your body to perform at your best. We believe in empowering our community to move better, feel their best and live life without limits.
What is Bespoke Treatments? REFINING THE PHYSICAL THERAPY EXPERIENCE
At Bespoke Treatments we are changing the way people think about and experience physical therapy & performance training. Bespoke’s treatment concept is hand crafted, personal and tailored to stand apart from existing models. Generic treatment protocols, crowded appointments and impersonal attention are out; engaging, personalized and results oriented treatments are in.
Bespoke is fast becoming the the go to bi-costal physical therapy destination for the rehabilitative and performance needs of athletes and discerning individuals. Experience is in the details so every moment at Bespoke is considered. Your Treatments are personal, created for you and your body to perform at your best. We believe in empowering our community to move better, feel their best and live life without limits.
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