What is Tennis Elbow?
Elbow Pain or pain in the elbow while gripping something is often caused by a condition known as lateral epicondylitis or tennis elbow. The pain is found on the outside of the elbow and occurs when the tendon of the muscle which attaches on the outside of the elbow is injured. These muscles are used to pull the wrist and fingers backwards and therefore, pain/difficultly performing this action may be a sign that you have this injury.
Who can get tennis elbow?
Although called tennis elbow, anybody can be affected by this.
It is most commonly seen in 30-55 year olds who perform repetitive movements.
What are symptoms of tennis elbow?
- Pain on the outside of the elbow just below the elbow joint
- Pain when lifting/bending the arm
- Pain when gripping (especially smaller objects – toothbrush, kettle)
- Increased pain when using the forearm muscles (e.g. using a screw driver or twisting a handle)
What causes tennis elbow?
Overuse of the forearm muscles – when the muscle is overused, small tears can occur in the tendon which may result in inflammation and pain
Factors that may increase the risk of this:
- Manual work (plastering, plumbing, painting)
- Repetitive wrist movements (screwdriver, typing)
- Tennis ground strokes
- Throwing sports (javelin)
Physiotherapy for tennis elbow:
Here at Physio Plus, we offer a range of treatment modalities which can help manage and improve tennis elbow or similar elbow symptoms, such as:
- Provide a tailored exercise programme to: reduce pain, improve mobility and build strength in the forearm muscles
- Educate and provide you with the right information to better manage symptoms and prevent this from reoccurring
- Electrotherapy (e.g. ultrasound) to reduce pain and speed healing
- Acupuncture for pain reduction and to manage inflammation
- Massage for muscle soreness and tension
Exercises for Tennis elbow:
Tennis Elbow Exercises – youtube
For more information:
- Please call us now on: 028 9187 1701 or visit our Contact Us page.
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