Tennis elbow

Do you suffer with tennis elbow pain?

Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow, is the most common chronic elbow condition. Tennis elbow can cause significant pain and loss of productivity with pain generally localised on the outside of the elbow. Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is an overuse injury. It is often caused by repetitive wrist and arm movements, with only 5% of cases related to tennis. Many people find the symptoms can continue for months to years if not managed early.

Common causes

Tennis elbow is the inflammation and irritation of the tendons that join the muscles of the forearm to the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow. There are many muscles with tendons that attach to this region and it may be more than one that is contributing to the pain.

The condition is an overuse condition and occurs when the same motions are repeated and overloaded. This commonly occurs with office work and especially using a computer and mouse. Other factors that may lead to tennis elbow are:

At Sportsfit Physio and Health our Physios have all the tools to ensure you have a full recovery.

Management

An accurate diagnosis of your elbow pain will help in the selection of the most appropriate treatment. A physiotherapist provides a thorough assessment with specific testing to provide you with an accurate diagnosis and guided treatment plan.

It is important to assess the causes of your pain in addition to the source of your pain, to ensure you return you to being pain-free and prevent further episodes.

Your treatment may include:

• Exercises- specifically targeting strength of the tendon and muscles of the forearm
• Hands on therapy to reduce the local pain and stress on the area.  This may include massage, stretching, dry needling.
• Addressing your postural and biomechanical needs
• Education on load management and ensuring you are doing the correct things to help recovery

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is best managed by a physiotherapist to return you to your normal level of function, be that work, sport or home life.