What Is Tennis Elbow and How to Treat It

Tennis elbow is acquired by overuse of the forearm muscles

Tennis elbow is acquired past overuse of the forearm muscles

You don't have to play tennis to develop a mutual condition known equally tennis elbow. Acquired by repetitive overuse of the forearm muscles, tennis elbow happens when the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outer side of the elbow become inflamed or develop tiny tears, leading to pain and tenderness. It's a painful and sometimes debilitating trouble, but several lawn tennis elbow treatments can help save pain.

What causes tennis elbow?

To understand tennis elbow, it helps to sympathize your elbow anatomy. Three bones make up your elbow joint: your upper arm bone (humerus) and the two bones in your forearm (radius and ulna). Muscles, ligaments and tendons concur the elbow articulation together. The bony bump on the outside of the elbow is chosen the lateral epicondyle.

"The clinical term for lawn tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis, and it involves the muscles and tendons that help stabilize your wrist when y'all straighten your elbow," says Michael Hadley, MD, a family medicine physician with expertise in sports medicine at Scripps Littoral Medical Center Encinitas. "People who play racquet sports, such equally tennis or pickleball, repeatedly use these muscles when they swing at the ball, simply lawn tennis elbow tin also outcome from whatever repetitive activeness that strains the forearm or uses repetitive extension of the wrist or mitt."

Tennis elbow tin can result from other activities, such as using mitt tools, gardening, sewing, painting, structure work. In some cases, the cause is unknown. The condition is most common between the ages of thirty and l, but it can affect anyone.

Tennis elbow symptoms commonly begin with mild pain or called-for on the outer part of your elbow that slowly worsens over time. Your grip strength may be weaker, and yous may accept pain at nighttime.

How can yous treat tennis elbow?

Treatments for lawn tennis elbow depend on the severity of your symptoms and how long you have had them. If your pain is mild and has started recently, you lot may be able to treat information technology at abode by discontinuing the activities that contribute to your hurting and resting your arm.

"For well-nigh patients, the most of import and effective treatment is to wear a caryatid to help residue the afflicted muscles and tendons," says Dr. Hadley. "Braces designed specifically for tennis elbow are available in many sporting goods shops or online. The brace may need to be worn consistently for several weeks to let proper healing."

In addition, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such ibuprofen, available over the counter, may help reduce pain and swelling.

If yous still take pain subsequently several weeks of home treatment, make an appointment with your doctor. Usually, a physical examination will be plenty to diagnose tennis elbow, simply they may order Ten-rays or imaging exams to rule out fractures or other potential issues.

You doctor may recommend ane or more of the following treatments for tennis elbow.

Physical therapy

A concrete therapist can testify you specific exercises to assistance with flexibility, strength and range of motility, every bit well as use therapies, such as ultrasound or massage, to help the injured muscles and tendons heal.

Your therapist too may evaluate how yous apply your arm and wrist and suggest modifications to help preclude farther irritation, such as using your shoulder and upper arm muscles more to reduce strain on your elbow.

Steroid injections

Your doctor may advise a cortisone shot in the painful expanse of your elbow to reduce inflammation. Steroid injections can be very effective in relieving lawn tennis elbow hurting, merely if you lot resume the irritating activity without modifying how your move your arm and wrist, the condition may return.

Extracorporeal stupor wave therapy

Shock wave therapy sends sound waves to the elbow to stimulate the torso's natural healing processes.

Platelet-rich plasma

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) uses your body'southward own platelets to help injured tissue heal. The platelets are removed from your claret and injected into the afflicted area.

Surgery

Approximately eighty% to 95% of patients find relief from tennis elbow pain without surgery, but if you do need surgery, your doctor will refer you lot to an orthopedic surgeon. Many elbow surgeries can be performed equally outpatient procedures, meaning you can go home the aforementioned day.

How can you lot prevent tennis elbow?

Making a few modifications to how you use your arm and wrist can help foreclose tennis elbow:

• Try simple exercises to stretch and strengthen your wrist and forearm muscles.
• If you play racquet sports, inquire a autobus to make sure yous are using the right size racquet. Have them evaluate your course and identify areas where you can change how you move to minimize strain on your arm and wrist.
• Take frequent breaks from repetitive motions.
• Try to minimize bending your wrist at work and during activities.
• Use tools with large, padded grips and avoid gripping and then hard that you put a lot of tension in your hand and wrist.

"Sometimes, just making a small modify to how yous use your wrist or position your arm tin brand a major difference," says Dr. Hadley. "It'south worth information technology to invest in a session with a physical therapist or athletic jitney to help forestall elbow problems from affecting your piece of work or play."

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Source: https://www.scripps.org/news_items/7315-what-is-the-best-treatment-for-tennis-elbow

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