A study presented at the 2009 American Society of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting looked at patients who have had tennis elbow that has not improved with traditional treatments. Half of the patients in this study used a special exercise tool called a Thera-Band FlexBar to perform strengthening exercises of the forearm. These exercises are specifically designed to perform eccentric strengthening maneuvers -- a technique that has been successful in patients with Achilles tendonitis pain.
The study found that the patients who used the Thera-Band FlexBar had better success than patients who did not use this specific tool. This was a preliminary study, and very few patients were tested. Therefore, more research is needed before determining if this type of exercise is the answer to tennis elbow pain. However, this is certainly a safe treatment that has none of the possible side effects of medications or injections -- treatments often used for tennis elbow.
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Sources:
"Easy Strength Training Exercise May Help Treat Tennis Elbow, Study Shows" American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, Annual Meeting. 7/11/2009.
