How effective is acupuncture treatment for tennis elbow?
May 08, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating lateral humeral epicondylitis mainly depends on the severity of the condition. For mild cases of lateral humeral epicondylitis, acupuncture may yield better results by regulating the flow of qi and blood through the meridians and relieving pain and numbness. However, for severe cases, acupuncture alone may not be effective, and comprehensive treatment strategies might be necessary to control disease progression, such as pharmacological therapy or surgical intervention.
Generally speaking, tennis elbow refers to lateral epicondylitis of the humerus. The effectiveness of acupuncture in treating lateral epicondylitis mainly depends on the severity of the condition. If the condition is not severe, acupuncture may yield relatively satisfactory results. However, if the condition is severe, the effectiveness of acupuncture may be less satisfactory. If discomfort occurs, timely medical consultation is recommended. A detailed explanation is as follows:
If the lateral epicondylitis is mild and the patient's symptoms are not obvious, with normal arm movement and no limitations, acupuncture treatment typically can yield relatively satisfactory outcomes. In treating lateral epicondylitis with acupuncture, points such as Quchi (LI11), Shousanli (LI10), and Hegu (LI4) can be selected. These points help regulate the flow of qi and blood through the meridians, thereby relieving symptoms such as pain and numbness caused by lateral epicondylitis.
However, for more severe cases of lateral epicondylitis with obvious symptoms and nerve compression responses, acupuncture alone often yields unsatisfactory results. In such cases, comprehensive treatment is required to control the progression of the condition, such as following medical advice for pharmacological treatment or massage therapy. When necessary, surgical intervention should be performed promptly.
It should be noted that regardless of the treatment method selected, treatment must strictly follow the doctor's instructions to avoid self-treatment. Additionally, adequate rest should be taken during treatment, and exposure to causative factors should be avoided.
