WHAT IS TENNIS ELBOW?
This is a condition of the elbow that actually involves muscles that extend your wrist and fingers. Pain is felt on the outside of your elbow where the tendons of these muscles attach. Tennis elbow is an overuse injury that can develop over time or after a specific activity. The medical term for this condition is actually Extensor Tendonopathy.
WHAT CAUSES IT?
It is caused by excessive wrist extension and can be brought on by one episode of unaccustomed activity, e.g. hammering from an awkward position or playing a long 3 setter in tennis. In its more chronic state by repetitive overuse of the wrist extensor muscles, e.g. using a computer mouse for long periods of the day at work, or repetitive gripping. It can be common in tennis players with faults in technique, e.g. leading backhand strokes with the elbow rather than from the shoulders (hence the name ‘tennis elbow’).
SYMPTOMS
- Pain and tenderness around the outside of the elbow (often right on the tip of the elbow)
- Aggravated by gripping activities, using a computer mouse for long periods, and resisted wrist extension
- Pain may radiate also down the forearm into the hand
TREATMENT & MANAGEMENT
- A counter-force brace fitted in the right position can help to redirect the tensile forces acting through the tendon and relieve pain immediately. Sports tape can be used in a similar way as a test for whether a brace will help
- Soft tissue massage and myofascial release over the wrist extensor muscles can give great pain relief and promote the healing process. Palpable tight bands through the bulk of the wrist extensors may also need to be ‘released’ with deep tissue massage
- Commencing a home exercise routine of specific self-massage, stretching, and strengthening exercises are paramount in curing this problem for the long term.
- Education regarding changes to workstation, sporting technique or work habits is often required
- Depending on the phase of healing, ice massage or heat can be a very useful adjunct to treatment
- Stretching the nerves that run over the elbow and even treatment to the neck joints and muscles can be required
SELF MANAGEMENT:
- Use of a prescribed brace
- Strengthening and stretching exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist
- Use ice for 15-20 minutes every few hours to reduce inflammation
- Avoiding aggravating activities
If your elbow pain doesn't improve, if you'd like to get some advice or would like to get fitted for a brace, book in for a free assessment with our physiotherapists. Tennis elbow is a manageable condition and our goal is to get you back to doing what you love, pain free.
- The team at Back In Motion Brighton