This diagram helps illustrate how the muscles which attach to the elbow become overloaded and start to tear the tendon attached to the elbow (the condition known as tennis elbow)

When muscles keep pulling on the tendon, sometimes the tendon structure tears and breaks down, causing local pain. The arm – in particular the forearm – can experience muscular spasms and a local weakness which serves to protect it from further damage.

The aim of treatment is to loosen off the muscles which have become hard, fibrotic and shortened, in order to avoid further small tears of the tendon.

Most traditional treatments include stretching exercises, corticosteriod injections and pain killers. The problem is that simple stretches only puts more strain on the torn tendon structure. Massage loosens the superficial muscles only and fails to reach the local tendon. Corticosteroid injections can be helpful in the short term, but those subjecting their arms to frequent, heavy use, for example, manual workers, will find their tennis elbow returning. For longer term results, the deep, tight muscles need to be relaxed by the fleximatic machine

I have found that the French Fleximatic massage machine ( which has been used in France for over 50 years) is beneficial, as the deep trigger and round head allows me to get deeper into the muscles of the forearm and upper arm, enabling some flexibility and stopping the muscles from continually tractioning on the tendon.

My patients have felt better within two treatments, which is unusually quick. This is because the trigger head of the fleximatic machine can vibrate and loosen off the deep muscles of the forearm which are unreachable by hand.

Patients who’ve been helped have asked me to include this in my blog for the benefits for others experiencing similar conditions.

Helen How
Registered Osteopath
0131 551 1044
Edinburgh EH6 4RJ

£35 for a one hour treatment which includes taking a case history and giving massage.