Bowlers Elbow: Is It the Same As Tennis Elbow or Different Altogether

The game of bowling is enjoyed by people of all ages. From 5 year olds rolling the ball between their legs with the aid of lane bumpers to help them down the alley to professional bowlers who do it for the the love of the game and of course the prize money.

But like any sport, too much of a good thing can come at a cost. A common injury that affects individuals who bowl is bowlers elbow. It is not an injury that only develops in professional bowlers either.

Recreational bowlers who play two or more times a week are also at risk of suffering this injury. It doesn’t matter of you play 5 or 10 pin bowling, the risk and present danger is real.

This kind of harm is normally depicted as constant pain on the outside of the your swing arm. More specifically the upper forearm and small bony node on the outer part of the elbow. The medical and common name give to this area is the lateral epicondyle. It is where your extensor tendon attaches to your arm bone(elbow).

So what should you do if you start to notice bowlers elbow pain and discomfort?

It is best to first address your technique. The best advice you can get is from a local pro. When you bowl, there are two principle things to consider, your grasp on the ball and your swing plane. Is it true that it is conceivable that you are grasping the ball to tight or loose?

When you grasp excessively tight on the ball, you put amazing strain and weight on your wrist flexor/extensor tendons which append at the elbow. This simple action of grasping firmly on the ball can result in little micro tears of the extensor tendon where it connects to the side epicondyle of the elbow. Overtime, the tear can get larger and larger. As this happens, your pain will increase more and more. It may get so bad that you won’t be capable of gripping the bowling ball, let alone throw it down the alley for a strike.

At first you may notice some swelling and inflammation but that will quickly go away after 2 weeks, even though your injury is still present.

Does swing path and release matter? You bet it does!

When it comes to individuals who bowl recreationally, their back swing and release of the ball is practically straight back and forward. There is very little wrist, forearm and elbow rotation, it’s very much straight. People with this kind of back swing have low rates of bowlers elbow because of the little strain on the wrist and forearm extensors.

Then you have the more aggressive bowlers who like to impress and put spins on the ball. These individuals are in the high risk group for getting bowlers elbow. If you think about the mechanics involved with having to put a spin on the ball, you quickly realize that it can cause injury.

In order to spin the bowling ball, your backswing has to arc behind your back and then come across your body as you release the ball. In order to keep this swing plane, you need to grip down tightly on the ball which engages the wrist extensors and puts them under severe strain. This strain on your wrist tendons, flexors and ligaments as your forearm and elbow begins to rotate inwards and twist even as have a tight grasp on the ball is a deadly combination. Professional bowlers regularly allude to this sort of ball discharge and finish as chicken wing-in it. And when you see someone doing it, the name is perfect.

Read: Causes of Elbow Pain While Twisting Your Arm and Wrist

If you are suffering with bowlers elbow pain, I propose you adhere to the customary bowlers swing and release – straight back and down. Grasping down on the ball tight and attempting to produce turn and spin on the ball will in the long run put you in danger of creating this injury.

Then there is the weight of the ball you are throwing over and over again. Perhaps upwards of 100 times per day!

This is also an issue that needs to be addressed. What happens when you are constantly throwing a ball that is too heavy for you? Well a heavier ball requires a tighter grip, which means your extensor tendons are put to the test. A good way to tell if the ball is too heavy for you is to remember how many times you “drop” the ball on your release versus a smooth release down the lane. If you are hearing a large bang when you release the ball, it is probably too heavy. Drop down a little on the weight of the ball, your elbow will love you for it!

Is bowlers elbow the same condition as tennis elbow? Absolutely!

They are both characterized as a dull aching pain on the outside of the elbow that gets worse when you grip or hold down tightly on an object.

Fresh Article: How Do You Get Tennis Elbow: 4 Ways It Can Happen

The test for tennis elbow and bowlers elbow are exactly the same when performed in a Doctor’s office or hospital. They are both repetitive strain injuries that are caused by repetitive arm movements and actions – usually of your dominant arm.

So what about treatment for bowlers elbow? to no surprise is it precisely the same as you treat tennis elbow!

Most people don’t even realize that you can fully heal and cure bowlers/tennis elbow at home.

You don’t need to shell out several dollars of your well deserved money on specialists or physio. Disregard washing down fistfuls of mitigating pills once a day that just cover your agony. Never need to wear any sort of brace or splint on your wrist or elbow.

All it truly takes to totally cure your bowlers and tennis elbow are easy steps you can do while sitting at home watching TV.

Even better is that this self-treatment program is at your pace and literally takes minutes every other day to do. AND you don’t have to give you bowling as you go through the treatment program.

Want to learn more about this brand-new program that has been healing individuals just like you at a rapid pace? Go here and watch the video tutorial and see for yourself.

Fay

Fay Martinez, PhD, is Carmona Nutrition’s director of curriculum. She leads the development of the organization’s educational programs and courses.

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