Therapies and Treatments for Tennis Elbow
Shockwave Therapy, Physical Therapy/Exercises, Myofascial Release, Cupping, Gua
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common overuse injury that affects the tendons on the outer side of the elbow. Despite its name, tennis elbow can occur in individuals who don’t play tennis. It’s caused by repetitive motion and strain on the forearm muscles and tendons, particularly those that attach to the bony bump (lateral epicondyle) on the outside of the elbow.
Symptoms of tennis elbow typically include pain and tenderness on the outer side of the elbow, weakness in the affected arm, stiffness, and difficulty with gripping or lifting objects
What causes Tennis Elbow?
Activities that involve repetitive gripping, wrist extension, or twisting motions of the forearm can lead to micro-tears and inflammation in the tendons, resulting in pain and discomfort. While tennis players may develop this condition due to the repetitive nature of their sport, tennis elbow can also affect individuals who engage in activities such as gardening, painting, typing, or manual labor.
FAQs for Tennis Elbow
What causes tennis elbow?
Repetitive wrist and forearm movements, overuse during sports, or manual labor, or sudden forceful actions.
What are the symptoms of tennis elbow?
Pain and tenderness on the outer side of the elbow, weakness in the affected arm, stiffness, and difficulty with gripping or lifting objects.
Who is at risk of developing tennis elbow?
Those at risk for developing tennis elbow include people participating in activities that involve repetitive gripping or wrist extension, age, occupation, or previous elbow surgeries.
How is tennis elbow diagnosed?
Understanding the diagnostic process is important to help you make the best decisions for you. An orthopedic and neurological examination along with a thorough medical history is expected. Imaging (X-Ray, MRI) may be used to rule out other conditions.
What are the treatment options for tennis elbow?
Resting and bracing are step one in self-management of tennis elbow. Ice and/or over-the-counter pain relievers (NSAIDs) may be appropriate depending upon the individuals risk factors with these interventions. Physical therapy exercises in conjunction with myofascial release and shockwave therapy have been found to be effective. Some other interventions that may help include cupping, Gua sha, and corticosteroid injections. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to repair the damaged tendons.
How long does it take to recover from tennis elbow?
Returning to normal activities depends upon multiple factors. How willing is in the individual to go on complete rest of the area? Rest is required to heal and gripping is part of life which will exacerbate. If you continue playing the sport or doing the activity that brought it on then the pain may get worse, not better. The next is how willing the individual is to do the necessary physical therapy and soft tissue work to help heal the injury faster and strengthen around it. The last is, how severe is it? More severe cases can take longer to respond. If you find a practitioner to address all components of golfer’s elbow and a patient that is compliant on rest, ice, and bracing recommendations the pain can subside within a relatively short window of time.
Can I continue playing sports or engaging in activities with tennis elbow?
It is best to go on complete rest from the activities that brought on your tennis elbow. If the activities are unavoidable then bracing and performing the recommended recovery activities after are extremely important.
What are the potential complications of untreated golfer’s elbow?
Understanding the potential risks of leaving tennis elbow untreated is important for making informed decisions about seeking medical care. The risks of leaving tennis elbow untreated include, but not limited to, chronic pain, decreased range of motion, decreased function/use of hand or arm, and/or long-term disability.
Are there exercises or stretches that can help manage tennis elbow?
Although it is great to be proactive in trying to help yourself it is advisable to seek help when dealing with a painful musculoskeletal condition like tennis elbow. This way you don’t risk making the situation worse and you can still get an at home program to get better as quick as possible.
How can I prevent tennis elbow from recurring?
Proper warm-up and gentle, dynamic stretches before activities, using correct techniques and equipment, gradually increasing intensity, and incorporating rest periods into training routines are the most important methods to implement to avoid reoccurrence. If you are highly motivated then you can also train for the activity. Once fully resolved, incorporate controlled gripping activities to strengthen the forearms like fireman carries, supination, and pronation strengthening exercises. All exercises should be controlled and scaled based upon the strength and endurance of the individual.
