Exploring the potential of dry needling as a targeted approach for tennis elbow relief and recovery

Abstract

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a common condition causing outer elbow pain due to overuse and strain on forearm tendons. Dry needling, a modern technique, involves inserting sterile needles into trigger points to relax muscles and alleviate pain. For tennis elbow, it targets muscles like the extensor carpi radialis brevis, aiming to release tension and enhance healing. Dry needling offers potential as a treatment for tennis elbow by targeting trigger points and dysfunctional forearm muscles. Proposed mechanisms include neurophysiological effects, local tissue responses, and pain pathway modulation. Inserting needles triggers local twitch responses, activating Golgi tendon organs to induce muscle relaxation. Microtrauma from needling initiates an inflammatory response, aiding tissue healing and regeneration. Dry needling may also engage central pain modulation mechanisms, enhancing pain relief. Improved muscle function and motor control result from restoring optimal muscle length through targeted needling. A literature search, performed in google scholar, EBSCO, Pubmed, Cochrane and web of science (all publications until September 2022), resulted in 3680 hits. The search terms used are lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow, trigger points, muscle tightness, tennis elbow. In conclusion, dry needling offers a targeted and promising treatment avenue for tennis elbow, alleviating pain, enhancing muscle function, and aiding long-term recovery.