Tennis Elbow: What You Need to Know to Keep Your Joints Healthy and Pain-Free

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that affects the tendons in the elbow. Despite its name, it’s not limited to tennis players; anyone who repeatedly uses their forearm and wrist can develop this condition. In this blog, we’ll explore what tennis elbow is, its causes, symptoms, and risk factors.

Tennis elbow is caused by repetitive stress on the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle, which is the bony bump on the outer part of the elbow. This repetitive stress can cause small tears in the tendons and lead to pain and inflammation. While tennis players are often affected by this condition, it can also be caused by other repetitive activities, such as typing, painting, and playing musical instruments.

The symptoms of tennis elbow can range from mild to severe and can include the following:

1. Pain on the outer part of the elbow. This is the most common symptom of tennis elbow and is usually aggravated by activities that involve gripping or lifting objects.
2. Weakness in the forearm. People with tennis elbow may have difficulty gripping objects or performing simple tasks that involve the wrist and forearm.
3. Stiffness in the elbow. The elbow may feel stiff and may be difficult to move, particularly in the morning.
4. Tingling or numbness in the fingers. This is less common but can occur when the nerves that run through the forearm are affected.

There are several risk factors for developing tennis elbow. These include:

1. Repetitive motions. As mentioned earlier, any activity that involves repetitive wrist and forearm movements can cause tennis elbow.
2. Age. Tennis elbow is more common in people between the ages of 30 and 50.
3. Gender. Men and women are equally affected by tennis elbow.
4. Occupation. People who work in manual labour or jobs that involve repetitive wrist and forearm movements are more likely to develop tennis elbow.
5. Sports. Tennis, racquetball, and other racquet sports can put a lot of stress on the tendons in the elbow and lead to tennis elbow.
6. Poor technique. Using improper technique when performing certain activities, such as weightlifting, can also increase the risk of developing tennis elbow.
7. Previous injuries. Previous injuries or surgeries to the hand, elbow, shoulder, chest, or neck can result in dysfunctional compensations that put excessive demand on the elbow. This compensatory overuse is a common contributing factor to the development of tennis elbow.

So, how is tennis elbow treated? Physiotherapy, including exercises and stretches to strengthen the muscles and tendons in the forearm is recommended. Your physiotherapist will perform an assessment to discover the root cause of your issue based on the 7 risk factors outlined above. They will then develop a treatment plan to address your individual needs and meet your goals. Depending on the severity of the problem, rest or bracing of the affected arm may be recommended to avoid aggravating the condition in the early stages.

Furthermore, over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help manage pain and inflammation. 

In some cases, more advanced treatments may be necessary. These can include corticosteroid injections, which can help reduce inflammation and pain, or shockwave therapy, which uses sound waves to stimulate healing. In rare cases, surgery may be necessary to repair the damaged tendons.