If you feel severe discomfort in the area around your elbow, it may be a sign of tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis. This condition occurs when the muscles in your forearm, arm, and hand are overused, which results in inflammation of the tendons that connect them to the elbow.
According to research, if lateral epicondylitis is left untreated, it results in chronic elbow pain. However, you can cure it with ample rest and a dedicated treatment approach.
This article will cover the tennis elbow causes possible symptoms, and effective treatment methods. So, let’s discuss them below.
Causes of Tennis Elbow
This condition is named tennis elbow due to its association with individuals playing tennis. Nevertheless, it is not the only triggering factor you need to know. Below are some of the common lateral epicondylitis causes discussed in detail.
- Repetitive Strain Injuries
Tennis elbow is usually caused by repetitive motions that involve straining the wrist that bends backward or turning movements like playing tennis or hammering. The pain may also appear suddenly during certain activities, like lifting a heavy object.
- Overuse
Overusing your elbow exerts additional pressure on the lateral epicondyle (a tendon that connects the one outside the elbow.)
This tendon supports the hand to bend backward from the writs. Such overuse might cause tiny tears in the tendon, causing inflammation and pain. It weakens the wrist muscles over time.
- Specific Activities Leading to Tennis Elbow
Engaging in arm-intensive sports, including tennis or pickleball, are usually the primary cause of elbow pain and injury. Additionally, strenuous elbow usage with repetitive lifting or gripping can worsen the condition. As it is also one of the common work-related injuries, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, painters, and butchers are easily susceptible to tennis elbow.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
A Study has reported that tennis elbow is typically reported in men and women between 30-50. The tennis elbow symptoms tend to progress gradually and worsen over time. These include
- Pain and Discomfort in the Elbow and Forearm
You will usually feel pain and discomfort on the outside of the elbow, which might extend down the forearm, especially when lifting or bending your arm.
- Weakness in the Affected Arm
Lifting heavy objects can cause weakness in the elbow area, a possible symptom of lateral epicondylitis. This condition is typically caused by repetitive strain on the tendons from activities such as sports, trauma, or using specific equipment.
- Difficulty Gripping or Lifting Objects
When you have a tennis elbow, you will certainly experience stiffness on fully extending your arm. Besides, you will find it challenging to grip or lift objects like a pen or turn a doorknob.
Now, let’s discuss the treatment options for tennis elbow described in detail below.
Treatment of Tennis Elbow
Generally, tennis elbow improves slowly and steadily. However, with the proper treatment method, it is possible to accelerate your recovery time. Some of the best non-surgical and invasive treatments are mentioned below.
- Rest and Ice
Rest is the most common yet critical aspect of lateral epicondylitis treatment. Continuous use of the affected elbow hinders recovery and causes chronic conditions. It’s suggested to avoid activities like using a screwdriver or playing racquet sports that can cause repetitive stress on your elbow.
Additionally, applying ice or cold compression wrap reduces pain and inflammation in acute tennis elbow pain. You can apply the ice pack for 15 minutes on the injured area several times daily.
- Physiotherapy
Strengthening your shoulder and wrist muscles is a critical aspect of long-term care for tennis elbow. An expert physiotherapist helps you perform a specific exercise that helps you strengthen the shoulder and forearm muscles.
Once a thorough evaluation of your pain’s impact and overall health condition is completed, they will develop a customized plan to address your chronic pain and help you progress toward better health.
- Medications to Treat Pain and Inflammation
Ibuprofen or pain medications such as paracetamol can effectively treat pain and inflammation of the tennis elbow. Moreover, other inflammatory topical aids, such as gel or cream, are applied directly to the affected area to ease the pain.
- Injections
Injections are now a popular treatment approach for tennis elbow. Corticosteroids are highly used and administered around the injured area where the tendons connect to the bone. It also decreases the pain and swelling in the short term.
- Surgery
Surgery is considered for rare individuals experiencing severe pain even after 6 to 12 months of consistent rest and treatment. A non-operative procedure known as arthroscopic surgery might be performed to remove the damaged tissue through many small or large incisions.
Prevention of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is a common condition affecting everyone. Here are some effective measures to prevent the tennis elbow from developing or recurring altogether.
- Proper Technique and Form During Physical Activities
Maintaining proper form and implementing effective techniques during physical activities are important to avoid overusing elbow muscles. Consult a professional to have a proper form and stay active with less stress on tendons and muscles.
- Adequate Rest and Recovery Time
Frequent and repetitive movements can put excessive pressure on the muscles and tendons of your elbow. Engaging in the same motion increases your susceptibility to this condition. If you experience discomfort or pain in your arms, giving your body enough rest is important.
For instance, playing sports require many arm movements leading to inflammation and pain. Therefore, you must take ample rest to alleviate the possible symptoms.
- Strengthening Exercises for the Forearm and Elbow
Performing regular exercises helps increase your muscles’ strength around the elbow, shoulder, forearm, and wrist. For instance, you can perform simple wrist flexion and extension stretches to enhance flexibility and complete range of motion.
Conclusion
Tennis elbow refers to the inflammation of the tendons located around the elbow region due to overuse and repetitive forearm motions. A comprehensive Tennis elbow treatment plan followed after an early diagnosis will help you tackle the painful symptoms and enhance your functional mobility most positively.
Moreover, implementing healthy lifestyle changes and preventive measures will help you lead your life without the fear of recurring the condition in the future.