Tennis Elbow - Game, Set & Match
Tennis elbow is a very common complaint, and despite its name, is rarely caused by playing tennis.
Let's explore more about this very painful condition...
What is tennis elbow?
It is a condition that affects the extensor tendons around the elbow. These are the tendons the muscles need to raise and twist the wrist as well as gripping/lifting items. Pain can be quite sharp on the outside of the elbow, and can also radiate down to the wrist. This is commonly accompanied by tenderness.
Tennis elbow is most common in 35-55 year olds and affects four in ten people at some point in their lives.
Whilst the cause is not always clear it is usually resulting from injury or irritation through repetitive movement, or carrying too heavy a load.
There has been some debate as to whether or not this injury is a tendinitis - inflammation of the tendon. However, the treatment that is recommended still focuses on reducing inflammation and decreasing irritation/overuse.
How can you cure tennis elbow?
Eight out of ten people recover without any treatment, within one year. However, that is quite a long time to wait, and treatment and exercise can speed up recovery.
We always start by examining you, to ensure your pain is tennis elbow, and not another condition. For mild forms we give advice on exercises, plus the use of ice and strapping.
Here are the exercises we recommend: Tennis elbow exercises
For more acute forms, or when pain has been present for a protracted length of time, we recommend a course of Ultrasound. This can help to reduce inflammation and pain, and support the care you take at home.
This is one of those conditions where it is important that you take the right course of action at the right time. And that's what we are here for. It does require some patience and application from you to both manage the condition, and give it time to rest, recover and heal.
Important to remember:
Tennis elbow, and other tendinitis type injuries take time to heal
Identify what is causing the problem, and modify/avoid that activity
Use ice to decrease inflammation
Strapping is useful when used correctly - we can guide you
Exercises to stretch the tendon, at the right time, are very beneficial
Do the right thing at the right time to aid recovery