Chris Roberts, a rehabilitation therapist and sports conditioning expert, has shared his tips for avoiding and treating tennis elbow, with help from Biofreeze. Wimbledon, the World Cup and now the Tour De France has taken over the television set in my home. With all these sports going on, they encourage me to go out and pick up a racquet or hop on a bike. However, with tennis elbow being a common complaint for tennis players, as well as many other aches and pains arising from sports’ injuries, it is important to warm up before you workout. However, if you are unlucky enough to injure yourself and have already seen a doctor, Biofreeze could be the answer to help reduce the pain.
Chris Roberts, Rehabilitation Therapist and Sports Conditioning Expert
“Cold therapy – or “cryotherapy” – is the practice of applying something cold to the source of pain. For years, cold therapy has been used to reduce pain, swelling and nerve activity using ice, cold packs, and ice baths.” Biofreeze
Recently, my boyfriend injured himself whilst running and his ankle was sore and a little swollen. As it was a Saturday, he wasn’t able to see a doctor, so he decided to use Biofreeze. (I must stress here that if you are concerned, please do seek the advise of a doctor. Biofreeze is not a replacement for a doctor.) I have the roll-on, which I prefer, as you don’t get the gel all over your hands. I used this on his ankle and he felt the gel cooling his skin within a few seconds. The cold feeling quickly eased the pain and he felt relief.
“Biofreeze is a topical analgesic that uses the cooling effect of menthol, a natural pain reliever, to soothe minor muscle and joint pain. It penetrates quickly, offering relief through cold therapy.” Biofreeze
I like Biofreeze and have since used it several times myself, for minor aches and pains. The active ingredient in Biofreeze is menthol, to help the skin absorb the gel, and it gives the minty smell. The cooling feeling is soothing and I prefer it to using ice, as this can often be too cold and almost feel like burning! The roll-on is convenient, as you can pop it in your workout kit, plus your hands will remain gel free when applying Biofreeze.
Biofreeze roll-on and gel.
Chris Roberts, a rehabilitation therapist and sports conditioning expert, has shared his tips on avoiding and treating tennis elbow.
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow. It is clinically known as lateral epicondylitis. It often occurs after strenuous overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, near the elbow joint.
How can you avoid it?
If your tennis elbow is caused by an activity that involves placing repeated strain on your elbow joint, such as tennis, changing your technique may alleviate the problem.
Compression items such as compression cuffs or elbow sleeves can also help minimise the risk of tennis elbow.
It’s not always easy to avoid getting tennis elbow; not putting too much stress on the muscles and tendons surrounding your elbow will help prevent the condition from getting worse.
What are the best treatments for it?
Tennis elbow is a self-limiting condition, which means it will eventually get better without treatment, However, there are treatments that can be used to improve your symptoms and speed up your recovery.
Taking painkillers, such as paracetamol, may help reduce mild pain caused by tennis elbow. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, can be used to help reduce inflammation. Cryotherapy such as Biofreeze can also be used to help reduce pain.
It is important that you rest your injured arm and stop doing the activity that is causing the problem. Holding a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel against your elbow for a few minutes, several times a day, can help ease the pain.
Physiotherapy may be recommended in more severe and persistent cases. Massaging and manipulating the affected area may help relieve the pain and stiffness and improve the range of movement in the arm.
Surgery may be used as a last resort to remove the damaged part of the tendon.
Most cases of tennis elbow last between six months and two years. However, in about 9 out of 10 cases, a full recovery is made within a year.
Who is most likely to be affected by it?
Tennis elbow is a common musculoskeletal condition. It’s estimated that as many as 1 in 3 people have tennis elbow at any given time.
Each year in the UK, about 5 in every 1,000 people go to see their GP about tennis elbow.
The condition usually affects adults and is more common in people who are 40-60 years of age. Men and women are equally affected.
What are other injuries you are at risk of when playing tennis?
Other injuries commonly occurring in tennis are Rotator Cuff Tears, Stress Fractures in the Back Patellar Tendonitis (aka Jumper’s Knee) and Ankle Sprains. All of which can be minimised through thorough warmups and pre-event preparation.
Find Out More:
Chris Roberts – Website
Biofreeze – Website
Where to buy – Boots
Check out our article, Top Tips On How To Recover After the London Marathon by Rehabilitation Therapist and Sports Conditioning Expert, Chris Roberts here…
*Health Advice: It is advisable to consult with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program or treatment.
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