Tennis Elbow- Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

QI Spine Clinic, 1 month ago

Let’s understand, “What is Tennis Elbow?” This medical condition can be referred to as a painful condition of the elbow. It occurs due to repetitive use of the elbow, which strains the tissues and causes damage. It is a common sports injury in people who play tennis or other racket sports. The injury occurs due to overuse of the tendon connecting the forearm muscles to the elbow. Medically, it is known as lateral epicondylitis because it causes inflammation of the extensor muscles. You must consult a QI Spine specialist if your pain does not disappear in a week.

Causes of Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow can occur due to repeated motion or activity. Repetitive motion can cause stress on the extensor muscles and lead to tears. A sudden injury to the arm or elbow can also cause it.

Risk Factors

Tennis elbow injuries can occur to anyone, but some people are more likely to get them. Risk factors include:

• Lifting weights greater than 20 kg regularly can cause tennis elbow. People who lift more than 20 kg daily can also suffer from tennis elbow.
• People older than 40 are at risk of getting it due to muscle weakness.
• Obese people are more prone to tennis elbow.
• Smoking also increases the risk.
• People who play tennis, softball, baseball, golf, and weight lifting are at a greater risk.
• People who are engaged in activities that put stress on their arms or elbows include musicians, painters, cooks, cleaners, gardeners, plumbers, and manicurists.

Tennis Elbow Symptoms

Tennis elbow occurs most commonly in the arm that is used more frequently. It may occur on any side, but mostly, it is seen in the arm, which is used commonly for repetitive activity. Common tennis elbow symptoms are:

• Pain in the Outer Side of the Elbow: Pain occurs when pressure is applied to the outer elbow. Pain may be mild in the beginning but becomes worse over time if immediate attention is not paid. Pain may radiate down to the arm due to inflamed tissues.
• Swelling: Some swelling may be seen on the outer bony prominence of the elbow due to inflammation of the tissues.
• Stiffness: Stiffness may be present due to reduced range of motion and it may increase due to inactivity of the affected part.
• Difficulty in Holding Things: It becomes difficult to grasp things tightly and hold them in hand. Sometimes, objects may drop out of hands.
• Weakness of the Joint: The joint becomes weak, and it becomes difficult to lift or raise the arm above the shoulder or head.
• Local Tenderness: Local tenderness around the elbow may be present due to weakness and inflammation of the tendons.

Diagnosis of Tennis Elbow

An orthopaedic doctor can diagnose it by doing a physical examination. He can also ask for some other tests. The doctor will ask about the symptoms and activities you are involved with during the day. An orthopaedic doctor may recommend an X-ray of your elbow, MRI, or EMG (electromyography).

Treatment of Tennis Elbow

An orthopaedic doctor will use different treatment methods to heal the tendon. Treat ment of tennis elbow also depends on the causes of tennis elbow. He may recommend the following:

• Rest: You must take rest and avoid the activity that caused the tennis elbow. Getting proper rest can help heal the damaged tissues quickly.
• Ice: You can apply ice for 15 minutes two or three times a day. You can apply an ice pack wrapped in the towel to your elbow.
• Compression: You can wrap a bandage around the elbow to compress it softly. Ensure it is not too tight, as it may stop blood circulation.
• Elevation: Keep the elbow above heart level to maintain proper blood circulation to the affected part. You can wrap a bandage around the elbow to compress it softly. Ensure it is not too tight, as it may stop blood circulation.

Other non-invasive treatments include the following:

• NSAIDs: The doctor may give you non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and swelling.
• Bracing: You can wear an elbow brace to give it rest. Proper rest can help in the quick healing of the internal tissues.
• Physical Therapy: A physiotherapist can suggest exercises and stretches that can help to increase the strength of the muscles around the elbow and enhance flexibility.
• Steroidal Shots: In some cases, doctors may use steroidal shots to inject into the injured elbow for quick recovery and relief from pain and inflammation.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery is not required however, if your symptoms do not go away with noninvasive treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery. The doctor will remove the damaged tissues from the elbow and repair the tendon.

Exercises for Tennis Elbow

Strengthening exercises can help reduce the pain. You can use weights and elastic bands to enhance the strength of ligaments and tendons in your elbow. This can enhance the forearm strength. You must maintain a daily regimen of stretching exercises and lifts to manage your tennis elbow. You can start with lower weights & increase slowly.

Prevention of Tennis Elbow

• You can prevent tennis elbow by doing stretching exercises. You must pay attention to the movements of your elbow while doing exercises.
• Practice exercises under the supervision of an expert physiotherapist who can teach you proper training to strengthen the muscles surrounding the elbow. You must apply more load on the larger muscles of your shoulder and upper arm rather than using the smaller muscles of your elbow and wrist.
• Proper warm-up is necessary for playing a sport that involves repetitive movements of your arm. You can stretch the arm muscles gently to avoid injury to the soft tissues.
• You can use sports equipment with a larger grip to avoid stress on tendons. A physiotherapist can recommend proper exercises to increase the strength of adequate muscles to prevent tennis elbow.
• You must take breaks while doing repetitive tasks. Take short breaks while doing tasks such as typing, painting, gardening, etc. This will reduce stress on tendons.
• When you are doing work involving your arm and wrist, you must maintain proper posture. Use proper grip and maintain proper posture of your arm and wrist to avoid strain on the elbow.
• You can also use an elbow brace to reduce stress on your elbow. You can also switch hands while doing repetitive tasks to avoid strain on one arm.
• Avoid forceful movements of your arm. Use gentle movements while hitting, lifting, throwing, etc. Avoid racquet sports if you have a flare-up.
• You can also make lifestyle changes such as reducing weight and avoiding smoking to reduce the risk.

Conclusion

Tennis elbow is a painful condition that can hurt the tendons of your elbow due to repetitive motion of your arm. It is a common problem and can also affect people not playing any such sport. It is caused due to repetitive strain on the muscles of the arm. It causes pain and swelling around the elbow. Proper rest, bracing, icing, and physical exercises can help to reduce the risk of tennis elbow. You must consult with an orthopaedic doctor if your pain does not go away in a week for proper diagnosis and treatment.