Tennis elbow treatment

About Tennis elbow

Tennis elbow - also known as lateral epicondylitis - is a condition that causes pain in the forearm and wrist. Unlike golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow is usually felt along the outer portion of the forearm.

Tennis elbow is caused by damage to the muscles and tendons in your forearm that connect to the bony bump in the elbow. These tendons control wrist and finger movement. The damage that causes tennis elbow is usually the result of repetitive movements with improper form. The backhand swing in particular is a common cause of tennis elbow.

The condition results in symptoms such as:

  • Pain on the outside of the forearm
  • Numbness or tingling in the affected arm
  • Lack of mobility or stiffness in the elbow
  • Weakness in the hands or wrists.

Despite being called tennis elbow, other repetitive motions may cause the same tendon strain.

Damaging movements include:

  • Repetitive use of a computer mouse
  • Cutting up ingredients for cooking, particularly meat
  • Plumbing and auto mechanic tool usage
  • Painting
  • Carpentry tool usage (such as driving screws)

Tennis elbow rarely occurs suddenly. Movements need to be repeated for over an hour a day several days a week to develop tennis elbow. If you are obese, or over the age of 40, you may be at a greater risk of developing tennis elbow. To prevent injury, make sure you properly stretch and warm up your muscles before activity. In addition, you might consider strengthening the wrist and forearm muscles through exercises such as squeezing a tennis ball.

Treatment Options

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Note that all prescriptions are at your provider's discretion.

Below is a list of treatment options used to manage the symptoms of tennis elbow. During your appointment, talk to your health care provider about the treatment plan that’s right for you.

Most cases of tennis elbow can be managed and treated with simple self-care strategies. These include:

- Take an OTC pain reliever. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen sodium (Aleve) are widely available over the counter and can reduce pain caused by tennis elbow.

- Rest. To prevent further injury to the affected area, take a break from the activity that may have caused the injury. Check in with your health care provider before starting your exercise routine or recreation again, as returning to activity too soon can worsen the condition.

- Ice. Apply ice packs to the affected area to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. This should be done for 15-20 minutes, 3-4 times a day. Wrap an ice pack in a towel to prevent the cold surface from damaging your skin.

- Stretch. Stretch the affected area gently while you are taking a break from your activity to keep the muscles and tendons in the forearm pliable. Additionally, you can use strengthening exercises with light weights to build up musculature and prevent further injury.

To regain mobility, increase pliability and strength, and practice proper form, you may consider working with a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapy can help you strengthen and stretch the muscles around the affected area to correct any imbalances and build pliability in the musculature in the forearms and wrist. Additionally, a licensed physical therapist may be able to work with you on your posture and form while performing activities such as tennis, or occupational movements such as painting or plumbing tool use.

If the symptoms of tennis elbow haven’t gone away after 6-12 months, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the tendons in your arm. The need for surgery is rare, but may be an option for those who have not had their condition effectively treated with self-care strategies or physical therapy.

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