Tennis Elbow

Understanding Tennis Elbow: What It Is and How Physiotherapy Can Help

Do you have a painful elbow that makes it difficult to twist or grip objects? Have you been told you have tennis elbow, even if you’ve never played tennis? At Pretto Physiotherapy , we’re here to help you manage your pain and recover fully. Contrary to its name, you don’t need to be a tennis player to develop tennis elbow.

Tennis elbow, medically known as Lateral Epicondylitis, is an overuse injury that affects the tendons in your forearm, particularly where the wrist extensor muscles attach to the outside of your elbow (the lateral epicondyle – not to be confused with the medial epicondyle that is of concern in Golfers Elbow ). This condition occurs when these muscles and tendons are overworked and are under a load that they don’t have capacity for , leading to pain, inflammation, and, in some cases, minor tears in the tendon.

The primary muscles involved in tennis elbow are the wrist extensors, which allow you to extend your wrist and straighten your fingers. These muscles originate from the lateral epicondyle, a bony bump on the outer part of your elbow. When these muscles are repeatedly strained, the tendons that attach them to the bone can become damaged, resulting in the symptoms associated with tennis elbow.

Tennis elbow can present differently in each person, but common symptoms include:

– Pain on the outside of the elbow, which may radiate down the forearm and into the wrist.

– Pain that worsens with activities involving wrist extension or forearm rotation, such as turning a doorknob or lifting objects.

– Stiffness and tightness in the forearm muscles.

– Weakness in grip strength, making it difficult to hold or carry items, especially with the elbow extended.

While anyone can develop tennis elbow, certain factors increase your risk:

– Age: Most commonly affects individuals between 35 and 50 years old, though it can occur at any age.

– Activity: Repetitive motions involving wrist extension, forearm rotation, or gripping can contribute to the condition. This includes not only sports like tennis, squash, and baseball but also hobbies such as gardening, painting, and gaming, as well as occupations that require repetitive hand and arm movements, like carpentry, mechanics, and computer work.

– Biomechanics: Reduced muscle strength and flexibility in the forearm and shoulder can make you more susceptible to tennis elbow.

Tennis elbow can be effectively managed with physiotherapy, which focuses on reducing pain and inflammation while promoting tendon healing. A tailored physiotherapy program may include:

– Soft Tissue Mobilization: Techniques to relieve muscle tightness and improve mobility in the affected area.

– Manual Therapy: Joint mobilization to alleviate pain and restore function in the elbow.

– Dry Needling: To reduce muscle tension and pain.

– Exercise Therapy: Strengthening and stretching exercises to properly load the tendons and prevent further injury.

– Patient Education: Guidance on modifying activities and improving ergonomics to reduce strain on the elbow.

– Taping: Supportive taping to offload the affected tendon during activities.

Tennis elbow, or Lateral Epicondylitis, is a common overuse injury that affects the tendons in your forearm. While it’s often associated with specific activities or occupations, anyone can develop this condition. With proper assessment and treatment, a physiotherapist can help you manage the symptoms of tennis elbow and get back to your daily activities without pain.

Understanding Tennis Elbow: What It Is and How Physiotherapy Can Help

Do you have a painful elbow that makes it difficult to twist or grip objects? Have you been told you have tennis elbow, even if you’ve never played tennis? At Pretto Physiotherapy , we’re here to help you manage your pain and recover fully. Contrary to its name, you don’t need to be a tennis player to develop tennis elbow.

Tennis elbow, medically known as Lateral Epicondylitis, is an overuse injury that affects the tendons in your forearm, particularly where the wrist extensor muscles attach to the outside of your elbow (the lateral epicondyle – not to be confused with the medial epicondyle that is of concern in Golfers Elbow ). This condition occurs when these muscles and tendons are overworked and are under a load that they don’t have capacity for , leading to pain, inflammation, and, in some cases, minor tears in the tendon.

The primary muscles involved in tennis elbow are the wrist extensors, which allow you to extend your wrist and straighten your fingers. These muscles originate from the lateral epicondyle, a bony bump on the outer part of your elbow. When these muscles are repeatedly strained, the tendons that attach them to the bone can become damaged, resulting in the symptoms associated with tennis elbow.

Tennis elbow can present differently in each person, but common symptoms include:

– Pain on the outside of the elbow, which may radiate down the forearm and into the wrist.

– Pain that worsens with activities involving wrist extension or forearm rotation, such as turning a doorknob or lifting objects.

– Stiffness and tightness in the forearm muscles.

– Weakness in grip strength, making it difficult to hold or carry items, especially with the elbow extended.

While anyone can develop tennis elbow, certain factors increase your risk:

– Age: Most commonly affects individuals between 35 and 50 years old, though it can occur at any age.

– Activity: Repetitive motions involving wrist extension, forearm rotation, or gripping can contribute to the condition. This includes not only sports like tennis, squash, and baseball but also hobbies such as gardening, painting, and gaming, as well as occupations that require repetitive hand and arm movements, like carpentry, mechanics, and computer work.

– Biomechanics: Reduced muscle strength and flexibility in the forearm and shoulder can make you more susceptible to tennis elbow.

Tennis elbow can be effectively managed with physiotherapy, which focuses on reducing pain and inflammation while promoting tendon healing. A tailored physiotherapy program may include:

– Soft Tissue Mobilization: Techniques to relieve muscle tightness and improve mobility in the affected area.

– Manual Therapy: Joint mobilization to alleviate pain and restore function in the elbow.

– Dry Needling: To reduce muscle tension and pain.

– Exercise Therapy: Strengthening and stretching exercises to properly load the tendons and prevent further injury.

– Patient Education: Guidance on modifying activities and improving ergonomics to reduce strain on the elbow.

– Taping: Supportive taping to offload the affected tendon during activities.

Tennis elbow, or Lateral Epicondylitis, is a common overuse injury that affects the tendons in your forearm. While it’s often associated with specific activities or occupations, anyone can develop this condition. With proper assessment and treatment, a physiotherapist can help you manage the symptoms of tennis elbow and get back to your daily activities without pain.