Can A Massage Gun Help With Tennis Elbows? (Answered)

By Steven

On May 15, 2022

One of the most prevalent types of tendonitis is the tennis elbow. This inflammation typically affects tennis players, golfers, and other athletes. It can also occur if you often move your wrist or type on a laptop keyboard without enough support.

Can A Massage Gun Help With Tennis Elbows?

Yes, a massage gun can be very effective in treating tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is a prevalent injury among players and even ordinary individuals. Massage therapy is one good way to address this problem.

It’s noteworthy to mention that you need to consult your doctor before using the massage gun for any of your needs.

Also Read:Can A Massage Gun Help With Weight Loss? (Explained)

What Is A Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow is an overuse ailment that arises when the tendons (tissues that connect muscles to bones) get overworked, causing irritation, degeneration, and possibly tears. Tennis players who handle their racquets too tightly are usually affected. However, this doesn’t limit this condition to only tennis players.

How To Use Massage Gun For Tennis Elbow Treatment

Tennis elbow is a painful, long-term ailment that can recur. Because allowing the elbow to rest and heal might take anywhere from 6 to 2 years, it’s critical to avoid getting injured again.

A massage gun employs impact treatment to alleviate pain, relax muscular spasms, enhance flexibility, and speed up healing.

Mentioned below are helpful tips on how to use a massage gun to treat tennis elbow:

Start by applying the massage gun above, below, and around the painful area. Do this for around 10-15 seconds.

Then float the massage gun back and forth for half a minute on the forearm.
Move the device towards the triceps and massage the area for another 10-15 seconds.

Also, massage your biceps with the massage gun for another 10-15 seconds.

Finally, if it’s not too painful, apply the device directly to the sore or tender area—massage for no more than 15 seconds.

After the massage gun treatment, do some light range-of-motion workouts. This will help to reduce tension and improve mobility.

In addition to the massage, you can ice your elbow for around 30 minutes to reduce swelling.

Massage Gun For Tennis Elbow (My recommendation)

We have different massage guns and theragun brands available in the market today. But, unfortunately, some are very expensive to purchase.

Furthermore, others are cheap but may not have specific features that make a massage gun much more effective and user-friendly.

I recommend the Opove M3 Pro Massage Gun to help with your tennis elbow symptoms.

The Opove M3 Pro is budget-friendly, easy to use, and effectively alleviates pains around your arms.

This device also has a good battery life, sleek design, and features that you will usually find on other high-end and expensive recovery tools like the theragun.

Click here to read the Opove M3 Pro Massage Gun review to get further information about the product.

Symptoms Of Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is frequently caused by excessive use. The onset of symptoms is usually gradual. Over weeks and months, the pain may worsen.

The following are symptoms of tennis elbow:

Burning or soreness on the outside of your elbow may spread to your wrist. This sensation may worsen at night.

It hurts when you twist or bend your arm, such as when turning a doorknob or opening a jar.

Stiffness or soreness occurs when your arm is extended.

Touchable swollen elbow joint when trying to hold goods such as a racquet, spanner, pen, or someone’s hand.

When lifting or bending your arm, you have a weakened grasp on the outside of the elbow that can travel down the forearm.

Causes Of Tennis Elbow

About 3% of people, mainly between the ages of 30 to 50 are affected by tennis elbow.

Any repetitive, forceful motion that pulls on the tendon and muscle around your elbow can cause a tennis elbow.

Racquet sports can cause tennis elbows like pickleball and badminton. It can also be acquired through repetitive arm movements in the workplace or activities like:

Cutting down trees with a chainsaw
Painting

Carpentry
Playing some types of musical instruments
Kitchen work, such as cutting with a knife

Plumbing
Working on cars
Working on an assembly line

A direct blow to your elbow can also make the tendons swell.

Also Read:Can A Massage Gun Help With Neuropathy (Explained)

Things To Consider Before Getting A Massage Gun For Tennis Elbow

With so many manufacturers boasting the ideal design, it can be tough to determine which ones are truly worth the money.

Here are some pointers on essential elements to consider when looking for one:

Battery Life And Power

Most percussion instruments are cordless, making them convenient to take in and out of the gym. Strong batteries are required for the gadget to achieve effective penetration. Rechargeable batteries are typically found in the device’s handle.

Lithium plus 12-24 Volts with 2500mAh will be a decent grade battery. Battery life will be longer if the quality is higher. For best results, charge your gadget at least once a day if you use it frequently.

When determining what you want the massager to accomplish, keep the power intensity in mind. A vigorous massage gun is for you if you’re a professional athlete who works out every day and is always afflicted by muscle fatigue. Choose a quieter percussion massager with a moderate power level when you want something a little more modest.

Weight Of Massage Guns

The weight should be taken into account because it is a one-handed device. You’ll need to be able to carry it in your gym bag and grip it when it starts vibrating. If it’s too heavy, it’ll hurt your hands and wrists. On average, one of these devices weighs between 2-2.5 pounds. Anything beyond that should be reconsidered.

Customizable Options And Additional Features

Different programmed settings are available on electrical power tools and gadgets, such as percussion massagers. It should feature a variety of speed and intensity settings and rotational angles. The majority of high-quality devices come with head attachments, some with as many as five.

These are made to target specific muscle groups and are designed and shaped accordingly. You must pick a model with various head attachments depending on whether you want a broad gadget or one that targets specific areas more strongly.

Noise Levels

The massage gun is quite loud. It shakes and pulsates rapidly and generates a lot of noise when paired with a bigger engine. Before you buy one, check the decibel levels. Most percussive massage pistols have decibel levels of 50 to 68. If you want a nearly noiseless one, you will have to pay a little extra. The decibel levels range from 30 to 40.

Also Read:Can A Massage Gun Help With Scar Tissue (Answered)

Prevention Tips

Take the following precautions to reduce your risk of getting tennis elbow:

Avoiding excessive use of sporting equipment like the racquet
Always use the proper sporting equipment.

Correct poor technique and form.

Different people heal at different rates, but if the discomfort persists for more than two months, you should consult a doctor because surgery may be required.

Conclusion

The soreness on the outside of the elbow is a sign of tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)—tendonitis results from overuse.

Besides, massage guns, rest, cold therapy, NSAIDs, and massage therapy are all effective hands-off treatments for mild to severe cases.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is a result of in-depth research on the subject matter. This article is only for informational and educational purposes, and it’s not intended as medical or health advice. Hence, I suggest you always ensure to seek the opinion of your doctor or other qualified health personnel regarding any questions that relate to health objectives or medical conditions.