Shockwave Therapy for Tennis Elbow: The Comeback Story You’ve Been Looking For in Metairie, LA

Did you know that you don’t have to play tennis to be diagnosed with tennis elbow? 

In fact, according to the Boston Children’s Hospital, more than 95% of tennis elbow cases have nothing to do with actual tennis — and most of those people have probably never even picked up a tennis racket.

If that’s the case, then what exactly is tennis elbow? 

And, better yet, how can shockwave therapy in Metairie, LA help? 

Let’s start with the basics. 

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a painful overuse injury caused by inflammation and tiny tears in the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the outside of your elbow.

Any motion that makes you grip or twist and swing your forearm often can cause tennis elbow.

Racquet sports (tennis, pickleball) and golf are two of the most obvious causes, but other more common culprits include typing, painting, plumbing, using tools, cooking, playing instruments and gardening. 

The most common symptoms of tennis elbow include: 

• Pain and tenderness in the elbow or down the forearm
• Weakness in the forearm and grip strength
• Pain when lifting objects, gripping things or shaking hands

If that sounds familiar, then a trip to your doctor can help confirm what you might already suspect. And if you’ve already been diagnosed with tennis elbow, then a trip to FunXional PT can help you find relief. 

Shockwave Therapy: What Is It & How Can It Help? 

When most people feel pain in their elbow, they do what they were always taught to do. 

Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevation. 

But as you may have figured out by now, the RICE method usually only works in the short-term — and the moment you return to your normal lifestyle, the pain comes rushing back as if it never left in the first place.

At that point, seeking physical therapy in Metairie, LA might be your best option. 

And that’s where you’ll meet your new best friend: shockwave therapy. 

Shockwave therapy for tennis elbow is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy acoustic waves (think powerful sound waves) to stimulate your body's natural healing process using a handheld device.

Most treatments for tennis elbow simply mask the pain. 

But not shockwave therapy. 

Instead, it works at the cellular level for long-term relief. 

The sound waves help increase blood flow, break up soft tissue calcifications, enhance collagen synthesis and release growth factors — all of which help the damaged tendons in the elbow repair themselves.

Does Shockwave Therapy for Tennis Elbow Hurt? 

Look, we get it — you're already dealing with elbow pain. 

And while the last thing you want is a treatment that adds more pain to the mix, the truth is that most patients do experience some minor discomfort in the elbow while undergoing shockwave therapy. 

But don’t worry. Each session only lasts about 15-20 minutes. 

And the discomfort generally eases up with each session. 

Plus, your physical therapist in Metairie, LA can adjust the intensity of the shockwaves based on your comfort level. If it's too much, they can dial it back. If you’re tolerating it well, they can up the intensity.

Overall, it’s a small tradeoff for what could be a big gain. 

It might not be completely pain-free, but it’s not overly unbearable and will get to the root cause of tennis elbow without having to undergo surgery, injections or long-term use of medication that only masks pain.

Can Shockwave Therapy Treat Other Injuries? 

We would never wish an injury on someone — let alone multiple injuries. 

But undergoing shockwave therapy for tennis elbow helps increase your tolerance to it in the future — especially since you’ll know what to expect and won’t have to deal with the anxiety that comes with it. 

And that’s a good thing because shockwave therapy is as versatile as they come. 

In fact, many of our Metairie, LA patients end up choosing shockwave therapy again for a wide range of sports injuries or chronic pain related to the feet, ankle, lower or upper leg, knee, hand, hip and shoulder. 

Some of the most common injuries shockwave therapy treats include: 

• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendonitis
• Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis)
• Rotator cuff tendonitis 
• Patellar tendonitis (jumper's knee) 
• Shin splints 
• Trigger points and muscle tension
• Chronic tendon injuries

If the RICE method isn’t working, then chances are shockwave therapy can help.

Whether it's damaged tendons, inflamed ligaments, calcified tissue, or scar tissue buildup, shockwave therapy gets right to the source of the problem and kickstarts your body's natural healing response.

Are You Looking for Quality Shockwave Therapy in Metairie, LA? 

Do you have an unbearable amount of pain in your elbow or forearm? Is the pain minimal but not going away? Have you recently been diagnosed with tennis elbow? Are you interested in shockwave therapy?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions above, then you’ve come to the right place. 

Welcome to FunXional PT — your go-to source for shockwave therapy in Metairie, LA. 

Our team of experienced physical therapists use cutting-edge treatments like shockwave therapy to get to the root cause of your pain — so you can get back to doing the things you love without limitations.

So, don't let pain keep you on the sidelines any longer.

Contact FunXional PT today at (504) 517-4594 or schedule your consultation online to discover how shockwave therapy for tennis elbow can help you find the relief you've been searching for.

Your comeback story starts here!