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Tennis Elbow
Lateral Epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is a painful form of elbow tendonitis. While common among tennis players, you don’t need to be a regular on the court to be affected by this condition.
The muscles responsible for extending the wrist are located in the forearm. These muscles are attached to the bone of the upper arm by tendons that run along the outside of the elbow. Overuse of the wrist caused by repetitive motions can lead to chronic inflammation and small tears of these tendons resulting in pain. Athletes, plumbers, and carpenters are often at risk of developing tennis elbow because of their repetitive activities.
Pain from tennis elbow is typically felt at the outside of the elbow and may extend into the forearm and wrist. If you are experiencing elbow pain schedule an appointment for an orthopedic evaluation.
Symptoms
- Pain or swelling in the outer elbow that is worse during repetitive motion of the wrist or elbow, or when gripping objects
- Weakness in the forearm
Causes
- Repetitive motions of the wrist (such as hairdressing, painting)
- Explosive athletic activities (such as lifting heaving weights or increased tension of racket)
Risk Factors
- Occupations that require repetitive elbow and wrist movement such as plumbers, carpenters, and hairdressers
- Activities that involve movement of wrist against heavy weight
- Excess weight
- Smoking
Diagnosis
Treatment Options
- RICE therapy: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
- Nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications for pain relief
- Physical therapy
- Immobilization of the affected area using a forearm brace or wrist splint
- Decreased repetitive motion
- In severe cases, surgery may be recommended to remove damaged tissue and repair the tendon