What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a muscle strain injury that usually occurs by constant motion of the wrist and arm. It is a condition that causes individuals to feel pain when they overwork the tendons in their elbow. It is typically an injury that occurs in athletes, however people with physical careers can experience this condition too.

This injury occurs primarily in the tendons of the elbow, but it is not uncommon for this condition to extend to the wrist and forearm. Most cases of this condition are mild to moderate, however if symptoms become disabling your doctor may recommend surgery.

Tennis Elbow Symptoms

Individuals with tennis elbow describe it to be an annoying sensation on the outside of their elbow. Over time, the sensation turns into constant pain. The pain usually happens when the elbow, arm, and wrist are moving. Sometimes the elbow can even feel bruised. People with tennis elbow may have difficulty with certain motions such as shaking hands, opening jars, and holding objects. This condition can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.

Causes

Tennis elbow is caused by overusing the muscles in the arm. When a person’s activity leads them to contract their forearm muscles repetitively the muscle can strain or tear. The repeated movements cause stress to the tissue which creates the tears where the tendons attach to the elbow bone.

As the name states, playing tennis is the leading cause of this injury. Tennis players use a motion called the backhand stroke which leads to injury if the athlete does not use correct form. In addition to tennis, other sports such as golf and hockey have high risk of this injury. Even certain careers may cause an individual to be more vulnerable to tennis elbow such as plumbers, painters, and construction workers.

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Diagnosis

Your doctor will do a physical exam to determine whether you have tennis elbow. During the exam they may apply pressure to the area while asking you to move your elbow, wrist and fingers around. In most cases, a physical exam and medical history are enough to diagnosis this condition. In severe cases however, the doctor may prescribe imaging tests such as x-rays or MRIs.

Treatment

Tennis elbow is an injury that often heals on its own. However, there are ways that may speed up the recovery, or ensure the injury heals properly. Your doctor may recommend resting the injury, icing, and taking over the counter medicine. It is common for someone with tennis elbow to begin a type of sports injury treatment program. This can be done with a physical therapist, personal trainer, chiropractor, massage therapist, or a combination. In severe cases an individual may resort to injections or surgery to correct the injury.

Someone with tennis elbow may be given specific exercises to help strengthen the region while keeping it in motion. While in most cases it is perfectly fine to continue with daily activities, it is important to listen to your body. Taking a break from doing what is causing you pain may help prevent the injury from getting worse or reoccurring. This all depends on the severity of the injury, and planning when to return to your activity is a decision you and your doctor should make together.