How to Relieve Elbow Pain with Acupressure (10 Steps)

November 8, 2024

Elbow Pain

How to Relieve Golf Elbow Pain with Acupressure

Hi, it’s Satoru from hariQ acupuncture & herbs. In this blog post, I will explain how you can use 10 acupressure points to treat elbow pain caused by medial epicondylitis. This condition affects the tendons on the inner side of your elbow and can cause pain, swelling, and tenderness at the inner side of your elbow. The other name is golf elbow, which often happens to golfers who swing the golf club and causes tension and pressure to the medial side of the elbow. Even people who use their hands a lot, especially gripping, wiping, etc., can contribute to this disorder. By utilizing the ancient wisdom of traditional oriental medicine, I have developed 10 acupressure points that you can massage at home to reduce pain and swelling in your elbow.

Acupressure is a technique in which acupuncturists apply pressure to specific points on the body to treat various ailments. By pressing these points with your fingers, you can achieve similar effects and find relief from discomfort. I hope that this technique helps you alleviate your elbow pain and avoid the need for injections or surgery in the future.

We understand this can be a lot of information and overwhelming: if you are looking for more support and answers, set up a free consultation with our Pain Specialist, Satoru Ozawa. Share your story, get your questions answered, and learn how you can set yourself up for tremendous success in achieving a healthy life.

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What is Golf Elbow?

Golf elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is a condition that causes pain and inflammation in the tendons that connect the forearm muscles to the bony bump on the inside of the elbow. This condition is often caused by overuse of the muscles in the forearm, leading to repetitive stress and strain.

What is the Mechanism of Injury for Golf Elbow?

The mechanism of injury for golf elbow involves repetitive stress or overuse of the forearm muscles, which called flexor muscles, leading to small tears or inflammation in the tendons that connect the forearm muscles to the inside of the elbow. This often occurs due to activities that involve gripping, twisting, or flexing the wrist, such as golfing, racket sports, weightlifting, or repetitive hand and wrist movements in jobs or hobbies. Over time, this repetitive strain can lead to the development of golf elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis.

How to Treat Golf Elbow By Yourself with Acupressure

As previously mentioned, your elbow pain may be attributed to Medial Epicondylitis, involving the muscles and tendons in that area. To help release the tension, improve blood circulation, and promote healing, I suggest using acupressure techniques. I have created a 10-step process that combines both Eastern medicine and Western anatomy and physiology perspectives to address this condition.

Step 1 - HT3

The acupuncture point HT3 is located at the proximal attachment of the Flexor carpi ulnaris muscle, near the medial epicondyle of the inner elbow. This is the area where Golf elbow pain is typically felt. To locate the point, look slightly above the bony part of the inner elbow. You can relieve the pain by rubbing the area in a circular motion for 10 seconds, repeating this process 3 times.

Step 2 - PC3

This acupuncture point is called PC3 and proximal attachment of Pronator teres, which help pronate your forearm. When you touch your elbow and you pronate your arm, you can feel the inner elbow moving. That is the pronator teres muscle. This point is just inner to the HT3 at the elbow crease. Rub the circular motion for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times.

Step 3 - HT7

This acupressure point, called HT7, is the attachment of the Flexor carpi ulnaris, which plays a big role in gripping, and moving your wrist curl inward. Also, this muscle attaches to inner elbow. That’s is why to massage this acupressure point is very important. This acupressure point is located inside the wrist, and you can feel the tendon and find the most tender point. Most likely that is the HT7. Use your thumb and rub a circular motion for 10 seconds 3 times.

Step 4 - PC7

This acupressure point, called PC7, is the attachment of the Flexor carpi radialis, which also plays a big role in gripping and moving your wrist curl inward. Also, this muscle attaches to inner elbow. That’s is why to massage this acupressure point is very important. This acupressure point is located in the middle of the wrist crease, and you can feel the tendon and find the most tender point. Most likely, that is the PC7. Use your thumb and rub a circular motion for 10 seconds 3 times.

Step 5 - Lu6

This acupuncture point called Lu6 is the distal attachment of Pronator teres muscle. The location is the outside of the forearm. When you divide by 1/2 and little above the half point. You can also find the most tender spot. You can rub sideways 10 seconds. Repeat 3 more times.

Step 6 - HT2

When you have elbow pain, you have to release the muscle tension on your upper arm. This acupuncture point called HT2 is located at 1/3 distal on your brachialis muscle. Brachialis muscle is also attached to ulnar bone, which is close to the inner elbow bony part, medial epicondyle. You can rub up and down for 10 seconds and repeat 3 times.

Step 7 - SI 3

This acupuncture point is called SI3 and located on. the outside of the hand. This point is great point for trigger point that release the elbow pain especially on the inner side. You can press 4 spots and compare the most tender spot. Rub in the circular motion for 10 seconds and repeat 3 more times.

Step 8 - ST13

This acupuncture point is located just below the collarbone and it’s very important to release this area for elbow pain because of the nerve innervation and muscle facia alignment. Most of time when you have inner elbow pain, you have tightness on your chest and subclavian muscle. Rub sideway for 10 seconds and repeat 3 more times.

Step 9 - ST12

There are nerve bundles called the Brachial plexus, and most of the time, when you have elbow pain, you have tightness in your neck, especially in this area. Anterior scalenes and middle scalenes are the muscles you need to release. The location is just above the collarbone. You can rub this spot in a circular motion for 10 seconds and repeat three more times.

Step 10 - C8/T1

Lastly, in the dermatome theory, the inner elbow’s nerve innervation comes from cervical 8 and/or Thoracic 1. A dermatome is an area of skin that is mainly supplied by a single spinal nerve. Each spinal nerve in the body has a specific area of skin that it provides sensation to, and these areas are called dermatomes. Understanding dermatomes is important in diagnosing nerve-related issues and in determining the location of potential problems in the nervous system.

When you flex your neck forward, you can feel the most prominent bone. This is Cervical 7. Just below the bone is Cervical 8. You can rub beside the bone in a circular motion for 10 seconds and repeat 3 more times.

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We'll be happy to answer your questions.

Is Acupuncture Effective for Elbow Pain?

Yes. Acupuncture is very effective for elbow pain. We examined your elbow and muscle tightness during the initial acupuncture session. You may be unable to bend forward or lean back due to pain. The treatments focused on reducing inflammation and swelling and restoring movement in the elbow joint. Acupuncture has been shown in many studies to be incredibly practical in reducing pain and inflammation due to its ability to stimulate the body to release its natural painkillers. So, you start feeling relieved from the pain after each session.

When Should I start Acupuncture?

As a general rule of thumb, the sooner one receives treatment, the better the prognosis. Some patients come for elbow treatment months or even years after the initial onset, and these chronic cases are often more complex and take a much longer time to achieve results. Even then, recovery is not guaranteed.

How Often Should I Schedule Acupuncture Sessions?

Regarding the frequency of treatments, Acupuncture follows a simple rule. Acute and relatively new conditions are most effectively treated with more frequent visits, whereas chronic and old conditions can benefit from more widespread treatments. In other words, if you just had an onset of elbow pain, you will probably be prescribed 2-3 treatments per week in order to get the most effective results, and chronic cases will generally come in only once a week.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with elbow pain and want to learn more about acupuncture and whether it’s appropriate for your case, send us a message through our contact page. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post! I appreciate your interest and hope to see you again for future posts.