Tennis Elbow

Systematic treatment for tennis elbow begins with an assessment. The diagnosis is confirmed through tender point examinations and provocation tests (such as the Cozen test), and the treatment stages are designed by checking the degree of tendon degeneration, partial rupture, and calcium deposits using ultrasound. If the damage is mild, acupuncture and exercise therapy alone are sufficient; however, for chronic cases involving advanced adhesions and degeneration, procedures involving direct intervention in the tissue are necessary. Tracking changes in the tendon condition with ultrasound even during treatment clarifies the basis for transitioning between treatment stages. In Korean medicine, treatment stages follow the depth of the illness. For the shallow stage where Qi and blood are temporarily blocked, acupuncture is used to open the flow; for the deep stage where blood stasis has clumped and caused adhesions, sharp needles are used to separate the tissue and strengthen the ligament attachment sites; for the stage where the tendon itself has weakened and degenerated, fire acupuncture and thread embedding are used to induce a regenerative response; and during periods of severe inflammation, bee venom and pharmacopuncture are used to soothe the condition. Dongjedang proceeds through all these stages of external treatment under ultrasound guidance, confirming the location of the lesion. Simultaneously, internal treatment is carried out alongside external treatment from the very beginning. Occupations that involve heavy physical exertion, such as delivery work, lead to rapid depletion of Qi and blood and the accumulation of dampness and blood stasis; therefore, by first undergoing a detoxification stage to empty accumulated substances and replenishing liver blood and spleen Qi with herbal medicine tailored to the patient's constitution, the materials for recovery are supplied to the path established through external treatment. When the phases of local treatment and systemic recovery work in tandem, the arm becomes strong enough to withstand a heavy box even after treatment is finished.