Tennis Elbow
Lateral epicondylitis (commonly known as Tennis Elbow) is pain over the bone on the outside of the elbow. The piece of bone that can be felt on the outside of the elbow is called the lateral epicondyle. When the tendons attached to this bone are overused, they can deteriorate and become inflamed and painful. This damages the forearm extensor muscles, which are active when something is gripped, such as a tennis racket. However, the condition is not restricted to tennis players.
What Causes It?
Much more than tennis can cause Tennis Elbow. Some of the conditions or activities that can cause this include:
- Improper technique of hitting tennis ball
- Improper size of tennis racquet or tension of racquet strings
- Repetitive arm motions in activities such as golf, tennis, raking, pitching, rowing, painting and using a hammer or screwdriver
- Improper golf swing technique
- Wrong model of golf clubs
- Advancing age
- Work that requires repetitive gripping
Symptoms
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow include:
- Pain or tenderness on the outside of the elbow
- Pain when shaking hands, picking up objects palm down, swinging a golf club or hitting a backhand in tennis
- Pain occurs when pressure is applied to the area
- Pain extending down the forearm
- Tightness of forearm muscles
- Stiffness or trouble moving the elbow
Diagnosis
The physician will ask the patient about symptoms and history of injury and will examine the injured area. The doctor will also examine the elbow for:
- Pain on the outer side of the elbow when doing certain arm motions or pressing the lateral epicondyle
- Stiffness of elbow and pain with wrist movement; X-Rays may be taken to assure bones are normal and look for calcium deposits in the injured tendons
Treatment
Treatment measures include:
- Rest and a cessation of the activities causing pain
- Ice applied in a cold pack to the inner side of the elbow for 15-20 about 4 or 5 times each day
- Medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen for pain and inflammation
Further treatment could include:
- Wearing a compression brace on the forearm to limit the amount of force placed on the elbow in daily activities
- Heat applied before preparing to play a sport
- Strengthening exercises of the extensor muscles
- Cortisone injection into the tendon attachment of the lateral epicondyle to reduce pain and inflammation
A gradual return to the sport or activity will include arm motion exercises modeled after your preferred sport (tennis strokes, golf swings, etc.).
