“Development of Lateral Epicondylitis due to Scapular Muscle Weakness”

Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is an inflammatory and painful condition affecting the outside of the elbow. It is frequently brought on by repetitive arm motions, such as playing tennis, but it can also result from weak scapulae, or shoulder blades. When you move, your scapulae help stabilise your arm and shoulder. Your body may attempt to make up for their weakness by moving your arm in strange ways. Tennis elbow may result from this additional strain on your elbow.

Tennis elbow can be caused by weak scapular muscles in the following ways:

1. Poor shoulder mechanics: Your shoulder may have trouble moving correctly if your scapular muscles are weak. When you play sports or perform daily tasks, this may put additional strain on your elbow.

2. Overworked Forearms: Your forearm muscles may strain in an attempt to compensate for your shoulder blade's improper shoulder support. Overuse of the tendons surrounding your elbow may result from this.

3. Strained Tendons: When lifting, twisting, or throwing, your elbow may have to support more weight due to weak shoulder blades. Inflammation and tendon irritation may result from this.

How Physiotherapy Can Help

Both the underlying shoulder blade weakness and the symptoms of tennis elbow can be effectively treated with physiotherapy. The main goals of treatment are to strengthen the muscles surrounding your shoulder blade, fix any improper movement patterns, and lessen the strain on your elbow joint.

1. Strengthening Your Shoulder Blade Muscles: You can realign your shoulder blade by performing exercises that target the muscles surrounding it, such as the rhomboids, serratus anterior, and lower trapezius.

2. Manual Therapy: Methods such as joint manipulation and soft tissue mobilisation can help ease shoulder and elbow pain and increase range of motion.

3. Stretching and Flexibility: You can lessen the strain on your elbow tendons by stretching your tense forearm muscles and increasing your shoulder and upper arm flexibility.

4. Ergonomic Advice: Physiotherapists can offer you guidance on how to move and posture yourself to lessen elbow strain, particularly when engaging in repetitive activities or sports.

Conclusion

Repetitive arm motions are not the only cause of tennis elbow. Weakness in the muscles of your shoulder blades may also be the cause, affecting the entire arm and shoulder. The pain and discomfort associated with tennis elbow can be eliminated, your shoulder blade muscles can be strengthened, and any poor movement patterns can be fixed with physiotherapy. You can avoid long-term harm and enhance your arm's general function if you detect it early and adhere to your treatment plan.