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What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow – also called lateral epicondylitis – is a painful condition characterized by overloaded tendons of your elbows. This condition happens due to elbow tendons injury and swelling caused by repetitive motions of the arm and wrist.
This condition is called tennis elbow because the risk factors of this condition include all arm movements involved in tennis. However, people other than tennis players may also get their elbow tendons strained and injured in a similar fashion and end up with this condition.
Common Causes of Tennis Elbow
The primary cause of a tennis elbow is the repeated stress on elbow tendons during activities that involve quick and repetitive arm movements. The particular tendon that gets injured to cause a tennis elbow is the extensor carpi radialis brevis.
When playing tennis, you may be at a higher risk of developing a tennis elbow if you hit the ball with the racket in a backhand position. This generally results in excessive strain on your forearms, causing them to become sore.
Some significant sports-related reasons for tennis elbow include:
- Using a too tightly strung or too short tennis racket
- Weak muscles in the shoulder and wrists
- Hitting the balls away from the center of the racket
Risk Factors:
Other risk factors of a tennis elbow include:
- Operating a chainsaw
- Painting with a roller or brush
- Repeating arm motions in professions like meat cutting, carpentering, and dentistry
Common Signs and Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
The primary symptom of the tennis elbow is pain and sometimes swelling on the outside of the elbow. Pain in the forearm and the back of the hand are also symptoms of this condition. This pain may range between mild discomfort and severe pain.
Certain activities, such as twisting the forearm and other repetitive movements like gripping and extending your wrist, can worsen tennis elbow pain.
In general, the pain of tennis elbow may occur:
- On the outside of the elbow and radiate down the forearm when you lift something or bend your arm
- When you hold small objects, such as a pen
- When you twist your forearm while opening a jaw or turning a doorknob
- Tennis elbow may also cause pain and stiffness when you fully extend your arm.
DIAGNOSING TENNIS ELBOW
Tennis elbow is generally diagnosed during a physical exam performed by a healthcare provider. Some other tests may also be recommended to diagnose this condition.
X-ray test: The doctor may prescribe an x-ray test to rule out arthritis in your elbow.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): This test helps examine the degree of damage in elbow tendons. It also analyzes your neck and disks to check if the pain in the arm is due to an irregularity in your spine.
Electromyography (EMG): EMG of the elbow is usually performed to check if the pain is due to a nerve problem.
Tennis Elbow Treatment Options
If the tennis elbow is in initial stage and the pain erupts sporadically, you need to manage it with the following self-care techniques:
Self-Care
- Stop activities that put stress or pressure on the elbow area.
- Take anti-inflammatory pain relief medicine upon consulting your healthcare provider.
- Try recommended exercises that have been tested to ensure relief in the elbow area.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Tennis Elbow
If the situation persists, it’s time to seek the services of professionals in the field. The following non-surgical treatments for tennis elbow can help address the concern:
Osteopathic Treatment of Tennis Elbow
Osteopathic treatment can help with significant tennis elbow pain relief. This treatment typically involves the following steps:
- During an osteopathy session, your osteopath will apply gentle pressure to the forearm muscles and other areas contributing to or affected by the pain. This is done to reduce tension and promote blood flow to aid in healing.
- During the same session, they will provide instructions on how to take care of the injury and recommend exercises to promote healing and prevent the recurrence of pain.
- The therapist will also suggest changes to the activity that has caused the problem. This change may relate to your training or other daily activities.
Physiotherapy for Tennis Elbow
Physiotherapy sessions can yield significant results if performed by an experienced therapist. Physiotherapists emphasize specific exercises to strengthen the forearm muscles, improve flexibility, and enhance overall function. They may use resistance bands, weights, or bodyweight exercises.
Ultrasonic Tenotomy for Tennis Elbow
Ultrasonic tenotomy, also known as the TENEX procedure, is a minimally invasive treatment option for tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). This technique utilizes ultrasonic energy to debride and remove the damaged tissue in the tendon, promoting healing and reducing pain.
Surgical
The surgical treatment for tennis elbow involves repairing the damaged tendons or removing the damaged tissue in the elbow area. However, surgery is considered only when the patient shows no sign of improvement with traditional or non-surgical treatments.
Post-Procedure Care
After the surgery, make sure you follow the post-procedure care. It generally include:
- They may advise you not to apply heat to the elbow and other surrounding areas.
- You must not self-prescribe stretches and movements in an attempt to relieve the pain as it may aggravate the problem.
- Avoid self-massaging or using deep heat creams.
- Avoid training or the activity that caused the tennis elbow.
Recovery
The recovery period for each individual varies, as it depends on the type of surgery they underwent. Generally, the resting period extends to 2 weeks, after which the patient can start rehab, including physiotherapy and specific exercises to restore the elbow’s mobility. If the surgery is successful and the patient regularly follows the rehab practices, within 4-6 months, they will start living and working as normal.
How Can I Prevent Tennis Elbow?
You have to correct your technique for the sport or activity that involves repetitive arm movement. For this purpose, get advice from your coach on how to improve your arm movement technique. Other ways to prevent tennis elbow include the following:
- Warm up your body before playing tennis or squash.
- Ensure that the tools you hold in your hands are ergonomic and support your arm movement. Specifically, these tools should not put extra strain on your elbows and tendons.
- You can also wear a tennis elbow splint when playing to avoid overstretching your arm. This will help prevent damage to your tendons.
- Perform exercises to strengthen your forearms.
How Do I Correct a Tennis Elbow?
The following tips can help you correct your tennis elbow:
- Avoiding the routine actions that cause irritation in the elbow.
- In mild cases of tennis elbow, applying a cold or ice pack for 15 minutes.
- Stretching as prescribed by a physiotherapist or sports medicine specialist.
- Doing osteopathy with a qualified osteopath.
- Undergoing surgery if the tennis elbow is severe and unresponsive to non-surgical treatments.
Why Do I Have a Tennis Elbow?
We perform daily activities, some of which are frequent and repetitive, potentially causing damage to our body parts. For example, bodybuilders avoid doing repetitive exercises and give proper rest to their muscles to allow tissues to heal. The same applies to our elbows. Any constant motion or frequent activity can trigger tennis elbow, putting stress on the extensor muscle tendon and leading to microtraumas.
Will Tennis Elbow Go Away?
Nothing resolves on its own. If you have tennis elbow, you should stop the routine activities that are causing stress and irritation to your elbow and consult with a certified orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine specialist. Once your elbow is healed, don’t become complacent. You need to take good care of it, as the injury can recur.
How to Recover from Tennis Elbow Fast?
Try to rest as much as you can, as activities that put stress on the elbow can aggravate the pain. Moreover, do only the exercises in the correct pose as taught by your physiotherapist or osteopath. If there is severe pain, apply ice or a cold pack for no more than 15 minutes to relieve the pain.
What Happens if the Tennis Elbow Goes Untreated?
Leaving tennis elbow untreated can become chronic and last for months to years, especially if the unnoticed repetitive movements of the elbow result in inflammation and pain. Therefore, it is better to consult with a professional osteopath, physiotherapist, or orthopedic specialist to address the growing issue and start a customized treatment plan.
Is Heat or Ice Better for Tennis Elbow?
Heat or ice may help treat tennis elbow if it is in the initial phase, as these tactics reduce pain by constricting the blood vessels. However, this self-therapy should be approved by a practitioner beforehand, especially if you are receiving osteopathic treatment for tennis elbow.
What Exercises Can I Do to Fix My Tennis Elbow?
Some exercises can genuinely help reduce the pain and treat tennis elbow. These exercises include:
- Finger-stretch with a rubber band
- Grip exercise (holding and squeezing a softball for 10 to 15 minutes)
- Wrist curl (palm up and palm down)
- Downward wrist stretch
- Elbow curls
- Forearm stretch
- Forearm pulls
Note: Make sure to speak to your therapist or coach before performing these exercises.
What is the Best Treatment for Tennis Elbow?
To expedite the treatment process, osteopaths recommend using anti-inflammatory medications along with proper rest. Moreover, if the situation does not improve, they emphasize attending osteopathy sessions until the pain is gone. Additionally, the recommended exercises and specific elbow stretches can yield significant results.
Request an Appointment
To play confidently, live without pain, and enjoy overall good health, a fit body is necessary. However, if something bad happens to your body, a customized treatment recommended by a professional healthcare provider can help you stand on your feet again. If you have a tennis elbow, please contact the Euromed Clinic. Our orthopedists and osteopaths can help diagnose your issue and provide a treatment tailored to your needs. For more information and booking, please call us at +971 4 394 5422 or WhatsApp us using the same number.
