What is Tennis Elbow?
What is Tennis Elbow?
An Explanation of Tennis Elbow- Tennis Elbow Definition
By Chris Adams, About.com
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis Elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a repetitive stress injury where tendons on the outside of the elbow have been damaged. These tendons connect some of the hand and forearm muscles to the arm.
What are the symptoms of Tennis Elbow?
Pain is the primary symptom of tennis elbow. Pain is initially localised at the outer elbow. Pain will heighten after activity and usually disappear within 24 hours. As the syndrome worsens pain will take longer to dissipate and eventually it will be present without movement.
Pain can occur when squeezing or gripping with the hand. Twisting of the forearm and lifting with the forearm can also cause pain.
How do I know if I have Tennis Elbow?
The direct cause of tennis elbow is still unknown, however some groups are more prone to this type of tendon damage than others.
Do you play tennis? Tennis elbow gets its common name from tennis, but that is not the only activity that results in this syndrome. Even though racquet sports are the main culprits, most sports can lead to tennis elbow including golf, swimming, baseball and fencing.
Manual laborers are the other group prone to developing tennis elbow. In short, any repetitive action that requires gripping and twisting of the forearm can lead to development of tennis elbow. Use of poor body mechanics and improper equipment further exaggerate the stressors.
A diagnosis by a health professional is usually made by a physical exam and a medical history. Since tennis elbow can be confused with some forms of arthritis and radial tunnel syndrome X-rays, Electromyograms (EMG), Magnetic Resonant Imaging (MRI) and bone scans are sometimes used.
So, you have been diagnosed with tennis elbow, or fear you might develop it, and it is time to look at treatments. Preventative methods for tennis elbow are part of a comprehensive treatment program and should be exercised during and after recovery.
Tennis elbow can be caused by repetitive or acute trauma or a combination of the two. Treatment for tennis elbow is the same whether it developed as a repetitive stress injury or not.
Finding the Cause
The first step in treating / preventing tennis elbow is understanding what caused it. Many general causes of repetitive stress injuries can be contributing factors for tennis elbow, particularly when focused on the elbow joint in question. Performing repetitive flexing, bending or twisting of the elbow also heightens your risk of developing tennis elbow.
Use the method outlined in Things to Do if You've Been Diagnosed with a Repetitive Stress Injury to identify the tasks causing the pain. Using a Visual Analog Pain Scale will help pinpoint the major and minor causes. The tasks causing the tennis elbow should be easy to pinpoint. It typically involves repetitive twisting and flexing of the forearm and elbow.
Stopping the Stress
The next step in your treatment / prevention of tennis elbow is to stop performing those tasks or correct your body mechanics when you do.
Use sound ergonomic equipment and setups.
Ensure you stay within the comfortable range of motion of the joint.
Keep muscular control over the entire motion being performed. Do not let things just flop around.
Do not stress the joint with particularly heavy or unbalanced loads.
Maintain a Healthy Body
You need to stay healthy and fit. Maintain a healthy weight. Strong bodies are more resilient against the stressors that cause these conditions.
Maintain good cardiovascular health. Good blood flow to the affected area is crucial for healing. Blood carries fuel to the cells and carries waste away. Tissues like tendons do not receive a lot of flow as it is so they need all the help they can get to recuperate.
Playing with different muscles than those you work with can also provide relief to an ailing elbow and forearm.
Home Treatment
Home treatment options for tennis elbow include:
Icing the affected area to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow
Using over the counter, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease the swelling and manage pain (Warning: only use pain medication at times of rest to reduce the chance of further injury)
Rest, lots of rest. Tennis elbow resulting from micro tears in the tendon can heal itself if no more damage occurs.
Exercise to strengthen the injured area once symptoms have been reduced
Professional Treatment
When preventative and home treatment measures are not enough your health care professional may recommend these treatments. Only follow these treatments when instructed to by a health care professional. Treatments include:
Icing the wrist to reduce inflammation and increase blood flow
Wearing elbow splints to immobilize the elbow and reduce repetitive trauma
Wearing a counter-force brace to take pressure of off the tendon
Using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to decrease the swelling and manage pain
Ultrasound therapy to reduce swelling and fluid build up
Cortisone injection to treat the inflammation
Extra-corporeal shock wave therapy to stimulate tendon healing
Topical nitric oxide to speed tennis elbow recovery
Physical therapy and exercise to strengthen the injured area
Surgery
Surgery is a last option for treatment of tennis elbow. In severe cases of acute trauma where large tears are formed in the tendon surgery may be able to repair some damage. In severe cases of repetitive stress induced tennis elbow surgery may also be considered, specifically if symptoms do not lessen after a year of rest and rehabilitation of the affected elbow.
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