Tennis elbow is a painful condition that affects the outer side of the elbow joint. It is also referred to as lateral epicondylitis. The condition is the result of repetitive stress to your elbow and forearm. Although tennis can be a cause, tennis elbow can develop from any kind of repetitive movement that overuses the muscles and tendons on the outside of your elbow.
Certain jobs are commonly associated with the condition, including painting and decorating or carpentry, and people who compete in other racquet sports, like badminton or squash, or sports that involve throwing or heavy lifting are also susceptible. Using a computer keyboard for extended periods of time or even sewing can cause elbow pain.
What are the symptoms of tennis elbow?
When you overuse any muscles, you can develop tiny tears in the tendons – the tough bands of tissue that connect the muscles to the bones. Putting too much strain on your elbow by overusing your wrist and forearm causes tendon damage around the bony lump on the outside of your elbow (the lateral epicondyle), resulting in a range of painful symptoms.
Initially you may experience tenderness on the outside of your elbow and it may be painful when you grip small objects or use a twisting motion, such as opening a jar. The pain may extend to the forearm and back of your hand and your arm may feel stiff. Depending on the severity of the damage, the symptoms of tennis elbow can range from mild discomfort when making certain movements (such as lifting or raising your hand) to debilitating and constant pain, even when at rest.
What exercises and movements should I avoid with tennis elbow?
If you develop tennis elbow you will need to reduce or modify certain activities or movements that strain the muscles on the outside of your elbow joint. This will give the tendon time to heal and allow the pain to lessen. If the condition is related to your job, you may need to talk to your employer or an occupational therapist about modifying the way you do certain tasks. For example, turning a wrench or even shaking hands may cause pain.
Certain exercises can also lead to a worsening of symptoms so you should avoid them until your elbow is healed. These include any kind of repetitive arm or wrist movement, or heavy lifting, or exercises that require you to keep your arms straight and your elbows extended. In the gym, it is advisable to give bench presses and push-ups a miss, as well as dumb bell curls.
Listen to your body. If you experience a sharp pain in your arm or elbow, you need to stop that particular action or activity as persevering risks worsening your symptoms and delaying your recovery. As with any injury, it is important to rest. You can use ice packs and anti-inflammatories to relieve pain.
Of course, there are some exercises that may help to relieve the symptoms of tennis elbow and promote healing. Talk to a physiotherapist will be able to recommend exercises to build strength and flexibility in your arm and speed up the recovery process. As you start to return to playing sport, you may need to wear a brace or elbow strap to reduce the impact on your joint.
Treatment for tennis elbow
Left untreated, mild cases of tennis elbow normally recover by themselves, although it can take up to a year or sometimes longer. Alongside painkillers and ice, a regular regime of physiotherapy exercises will prevent stiffness and ease pain. If your symptoms are agonising, this is the recommended treatment regime as no other treatment has been shown to speed up healing or reduce symptoms.
If your symptoms are agonising, or aren’t improving after at least nine months, talk to an upper limb specialist like Thames Shoulder and Elbow who will be able to discuss possible treatment options. These include dry needling injections to stimulate blood flow and healing, or shockwave therapy which has a similar effect. Your surgeon will discuss the pros and cons of each approach. For severe cases which are not resolving, you may be offered surgery to remove or repair damaged sections of tendon.
For more information or advice about diagnosing and treating tennis elbow, contact Thames Shoulder and Elbow.
Orthopaedic Consultant & Surgeon | London
Thames Shoulder & Elbow are able to provide advice and support to anyone experiencing symptoms affecting the upper limbs (shoulder, upper arm, elbow, forearm and wrist).
Telephone: 020 376 15987
Email: admin@thamesshoulderandelbow.co.uk
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