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Teniški komolec, medicinsko znan kot lateralni epikondilitis, je pogosto bolezensko stanje, za katerega sta značilni bolečina in togost v komolcu in podlakti. Teniški komolec je zelo nadležen in nas pogosto ovira pri vsakodnevnih dejavnostih. Obstaja veliko različnih vrst zdravljenja teniškega komolca, vključno s protivnetnimi zdravili, fizikalno terapijo, ultrazvokom, injekcijami plazme, bogate s trombociti, in injekcijami steroidov. Če pa ste za bolj naravno celostno zdravljenje brez zdravil, sta morda dobra izbira akupunktura in tradicionalna kitajska medicina (TKM).
Kaj je teniški komolec?
Teniški komolec se običajno pojavi zaradi ponavljajočih se obremenitev podlakti in zapestja, ki povzročijo majhne raztrganine v tetivah. Tetive, ki povezujejo mišice podlakti in zapestja s kostjo na zunanji strani komolca, so pri teniškem komolcu preveč obremenjene in razdražene. To draženje povzroči vnetje in bolečino, ki jo običajno občutimo v okolici zunanjega komolca in lahko seva v podlaket in zapestje. Lahko se pojavi tudi pekoč občutek v mišici na zunanji strani podlakti. Bolečina in šibkost v komolcu in zapestju lahko otežita izvajanje običajnih gibov, kot sta držanje skodelice ali uporaba računalniške miške.
Podobno stanje je tudi komolec golfista, saj gre prav tako za poškodbo zaradi prekomerne uporabe, ki povzroča šibkost in bolečino v podlakti. Razlika pri komolcu golfista, znanem tudi kot medialni epikondilitis, je v tem, da se bolečina nahaja na notranji strani komolca. Bolečina je v nasprotju s teniškim komolcem izrazitejša pri upogibanju roke kot pa pri njenem iztegovanju.
Simptomi teniškega komolca
bolečina ali pekoč občutek na zunanji strani komolca
bolečina pri stiskanju pesti ali upogibanju podlakti (golf komolec)
bolečina pri odpiranju prstov ali vzravnavanju podlakti (teniški komolec)
bolečina okoli prizadetega območja komolca (notranji ali zunanja stran komolca)
šibek oprijem
težave in bolečine pri poskusu prijemanja predmetov
Kdo trpi zaradi teniškega komolca?
Za nastanek tega bolezenskega stanja vam ni treba igrati tenisa, saj ste zanj nagnjeni zaradi vseh pretiranih in ponavljajočih se gibov, pri katerih se uporabljajo mišice in kite komolca, podlakti, zapestja in dlani ter pri katerih je vključeno prijemanje predmetov. To stanje lahko hitreje razvijejo gradbeni delavci, kuharji, mesarji, vodovodarji, delavci v tovarnah in celo pisarniški delavci, ki dolge ure delajo z računalnikom. Drugi dejavniki, ki povečujejo tveganje za teniški komolec, so slaba drža, šibke mišice, starost, prekomerna telesna teža, kajenje in nekatera bolezenska stanja, kot je revmatoidni artritis. Najpogostejša je pri ljudeh, starih med 40 in 50 let.
Akupunktura kot naravno protibolečinsko sredstvo za teniški komolec
Akupunktura je tehnika, ki spada v širšo kategorijo TKM. Za zdravljenje bolečin se uporabljajo različne modalitete TKM. Vključuje zdravljenje z akupunkturo, elektroakupunkturo, moksibustijo, ventuzami, masažo Tui Na, vadbo in kitajskimi zelišči. Kombiniranje različnih oblik zdravljenja omogoča hitrejše rezultate in dlje trajajoče učinke.
Pri tipičnem zdravljenju z akupunkturo se v določene točke v telesu vbode kot nitka tanke igle. Teorija pravi, da lahko s tem posegom "odblokirate" pretok energije, ki se v TKM imenuje "qi" ali "či" in ki naj bi tekla v telesu po meridianskih poteh. Ponovna vzpostavitev normalnega pretoka te energije je v TKM bistvenega pomena za zdravljenje in odpravljanje bolezni. Sodobne študije so pokazale, da se z nameščanjem tankih igel na različne točke v telesu spodbuja proizvodnja telesu lastnih snovi in nevrotransmiterjev, kot so endorfini, kar olajša bolečine.
Dokazi o zdravilni moči akupunkture
Pregled štirih študij, objavljenih v reviji British Journal of Sports Medicine leta 2005, je pokazal, da je akupunktura v primerjavi s placebom znatno ublažila bolečine. Skupno zmanjšanje bolečine je bilo 55,8-odstotno v skupini z akupunkturo in 15-odstotno v skupini s placebom. Študija iz leta 2015 je združila rezultate šestih različnih študij. Dve od študij sta primerjali pravo akupunkturo z navidezno akupunkturo, ki vključuje naključno nameščanje igel v netradicionalne akupunkturne točke. Avtorji so ugotovili, da je bila standardna akupunktura v primerjavi z navidezno akupunkturo učinkovitejša.
Kako izgleda zdravljenje z akupunkturo?
Terapija traja od 45 do 60 minut. Akupunkturist bo preveril vaše stanje z diagnostičnimi metodami TKM, kot so anamneza, pregled pulza in jezika. Po pregledu se boste odpravili v sobo za terapijo, kjer vam bo akupunkturist po telesu razporedil več zelo tankih igel. Nato se za 30 minut sprostite ali zaspite. Akupunktura ne boli. Vsak se na akupunkturo odziva drugače. Običajno je potrebnih od 2 do 8 terapij, v povprečju 5 terapij. Za močnejše in dolgotrajnejše učinke akupunkturist običajno predlaga individualizirano mešanico zelišč, ki jo vzamete domov, ter prilagoditev prehrane in telesno vadbo.
Ease the pain of tennis elbow with acupuncture and TCM
Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common condition characterized by pain and stiffness in the elbow and forearm. Tennis elbow is very annoying and often hinders you in your daily activities. There are many different types of treatment for tennis elbow, including anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, ultrasound, platelet rich plasma injections, and steroid injections. But if you are into a more natural, holistic and non-medication healing, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) might be a good option.
What is a tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow usually occurs due to repeated strain on the forearm and wrist, which causes small tears in the tendons. The tendons that connect the forearm and wrist muscles to the bone on the outside of the elbow are overused and irritated in tennis elbow. This irritation leads to inflammation and pain, which is usually felt in the area around the outer elbow and can radiate to the forearm and wrist. There might also be a burning sensation in the muscle on the outer forearm. Pain and weakness in the elbow and wrist can make it difficult to perform regular actions like holding a cup or using a computer mouse.
Golfer’s elbow is a similar condition in that it is also an overuse injury that causes weakness and pain in the forearm. The difference is that with golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is that the pain is located on the inner elbow. The pain is more pronounced when flexing/bending the arm rather than extending/straightening it as opposed to the tennis elbow.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
Outer elbow pain or burning sensation
Pain when making a fist or bending the forearm (golfer’s elbow)
Pain when opening the fingers or straightening the forearm (tennis elbow)
Soreness around the affected elbow area (either inner or outer elbow)
Grip is weak
Difficulties and pain when trying to grab items
Who suffers from a tennis elbow?
You don’t have to play tennis to develop the condition, any excessive and repetitive movements that use the muscles and tendons of the elbow, forearm, wrist, and hand and involve gripping an object are making you prone to it. Construction workers, cooks, butchers, plumbers, factories workers, even office workers with long hours of computer work are at risk to the condition. Other factors that increase the risk of a tennis elbow are poor posture, weak muscles, old age, overweight, smoking, and certain medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. It is most common in people aged between 40 and 50 years.
Acupuncture as a natural painkiller for a tennis elbow
Acupuncture is a technique that falls under the broader category of TCM. TCM uses a variety of modalities to treat pains. It includes acupuncture treatment, electro-acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, Tui Na massage, exercise, and Chinese herbs. By combining different forms of treatment, it give faster results and longer effects.
A typical Acupuncture treatment involves the insertion of very thin, filament needles into specific points in the body. The theory is that this intervention can “unblock” the flow of energy – referred to as ‘Qi’ or ‘Chi’ in TCM – which is thought to flow along these Meridian pathways in the body. And restoring the normal flow of this energy is thought to be essential to healing and the reversal of disease in TCM. Modern studies found that by placing fine needles at various points in the body, the production of the body's own substances and neurotransmitters like endorphins is stimulated therefore giving a pain relief.
The evidence of the healing power of acupuncture
A 2005 review of four studies published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found significant pain relief with acupuncture compared with placebo. Overall, reduction of pain was 55.8 percent in the acupuncture group and 15 percent in the placebo group. A 2015 study combined results from six different studies. Two of the studies compared real acupuncture with sham acupuncture, which involves placing the needle in non-traditional acupuncture points at random. The authors found a benefit with standard acupuncture compared to sham acupuncture.
What does an acupuncture treatment look like?
The treatment lasts 45-60 minutes. The acupuncturist will check your condition with the TCM diagnostics like interviewing, checking your pulse and tongue. After the assessment, you will proceed to the treatment room where the acupuncturist places a number of very small needles, spread across your body. Then you can relax or sleep for 30 minutes. Acupuncture does not hurt. Everybody responses to acupuncture differently. But it usually takes 2-8 treatments, 5 treatments by average. To give stronger and longer lasting effects, the acupuncturist usually suggest an individualized herbal mixture to take home as well as dietary adjustments and exercise.