Tennis elbow causes pain and tenderness around the outside of your elbow. Medically, it’s known as lateral epicondylitis.
This overuse injury usually occurs after the forearm muscles repeatedly contract. Over time, this creates inflammation and micro tears in the tendons that attach to the bony part of the elbow.
Causes of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is usually caused by overusing the forearm muscles. But, this isn’t always the case. It can also occur after a direct injury, such a car accident or fall. Sometimes, tennis elbow symptoms have no identifiable cause.
Repeated actions that may lead to lateral epicondylitis:
- Painting
- Hammering
- Sawing
- Typing
- Sweeping
- Gardening
- Lifting heavy objects
- Playing sports that rely on the elbow’s movement, e.g. tennis
- Playing musical instruments
- Working on an assembly line that requires the same hand action most of the day.
Signs and Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
Signs and symptoms of tennis elbow can include:
- Elbow pain that worsens over time
- Pain or tenderness on the outside of your elbow
- Discomfort in your elbow, forearm and wrist when gripping objects, e.g. pen, jar
- Weakness in the wrist
- Difficulty bending or lifting your arm
- Intensified elbow pain when your wrist bends backwards
In the beginning, pain may be mild. But with time, it can become debilitating and make it hard to freely take part in life. Varying levels of discomfort are usually felt when the elbow is being used and at rest. Symptoms often resolve in 6-12 months with conservative treatment.
Conclusion
Tennis elbow causes pain in and around the elbow area. It also creates varying levels of restriction in your life, due to the discomfort.
Your doctor can help you investigate elbow pain and order tests, e.g. X-Ray.
Conservative treatments include:
- Avoid activities that worsen pain
- Ice packs for elbow swelling
- Analgesics to decrease pain. Ibuprofen is useful, but it has side effects. Consider natural analgesics like Curcumin, Cat’s claw, Devil’s claw.
- Acupuncture helps decrease elbow pain and inflammation. Click here to find an Acupuncturist in your area
FAQs
Is physiotherapy good for tennis elbow?
Yes, physiotherapy can help with tennis elbow. You’ll learn exercises that gently strengthen your forearm muscles. If needed, a brace that helps decrease pain may be recommended.
What is the main cause of elbow pain?
Tennis elbow causes pain on the outside of the elbow and limited arm movement. It’s an overuse injury that occurs after the forearm muscles have repeatedly contracted.
Should you massage tennis elbow?
Yes, massage can help tennis elbow. Treatment focuses on boosting circulation in the forearm, which helps decrease pain and speed up healing. Deep tissue massage is often recommended for tennis elbow. Myotherapy, a form of hands-on therapy, can also help.
