What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow is a repetitive strain injury also known as lateral epicondylosis. Side refers to the outer part of the arm when standing upright with the arms at the sides. Tennis elbow is often referred to as external (lateral) elbow pain or internal (medial) elbow pain, but it often results from overuse of the forearm muscles that extend the fingers and wrist, resulting in elbow and forearm pain.
Over time, this repeated overuse can cause damage to the tendonsthe fiber strands that connect muscles to bones or other muscles. The tendons attached to the elbow become swollen and inflamed. Simple movements like shaking hands or turning a doorknob can cause moderate to acute pain. Tennis elbow pain is equally common in men and women, but is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50.
What causes tennis elbow?
Lateral epicondylosis is one of the most common diseases of the arm disruptions, This can lead to significant impairment of movement and function. The area around the bone of the outer elbow becomes irritated and inflamed from exercise or other repetitive everyday activities. Many people who have never played tennis develop tennis elbow. Often, this inflammation of a bony part of the elbow is caused by simple, everyday activities such as gardening, using scissors, or carrying a heavy briefcase.
It is estimated that less than three percent of the world’s population suffers from the disease, but only about five percent of them actually play tennis. The most common reason for tennis players to develop tennis elbow is using the wrong tennis racket or an incorrect backhand stroke. Using a racquet that is strung too tightly increases the force on a player’s arm, and hitting the ball with the wrong side of the racquet can also contribute to this.
Symptoms of tennis elbow include pain on the outer elbow, pinpoint tenderness (pain when touched) on the outermost part of the elbow, pain around the wrist when gripping or holding something in the hand, morning elbow stiffness and audible clicking, and pain when lifting with the elbow Tennis elbow wrist with palm down for something with weight.
Tennis elbow treatment
Treatment and treatment for tennis elbow focuses on relieving pain and discomfort due to tension in the muscle and tendon tissue in the affected area. It also addresses the change in repetitive activities that caused the condition. Avoiding activities that require grasping, twisting, or lifting movements will help repair damaged tissue. Using an ice pack can promote blood circulation by reducing swelling in the affected area. The use of analgesics is often recommended.
Tennis elbow exercises
Exercises to treat tennis elbow can help strengthen weak forearm muscles, which may be the cause of the problem. These exercises can also serve as follow-up treatment or as rehabilitation exercises for people after tennis elbow treatment or tennis elbow surgery.
- Supination with a dumbbell: The supinator muscle is the large forearm muscle that attaches to the elbow. It is responsible for supination of the palm upward and is often involved in movements that cause tennis elbow. Hold a light to medium-weight dumbbell and rotate your forearm so it is raised forward and down.
- Wrist extension: The muscle group responsible for flexing the wrist is the wrist extensors. These are small muscles that are connected to the elbow and are prone to overuse, especially in racquet sports. Hold a light- to medium-weight dumbbell and place your forearm on your thigh or a table while letting your wrist hang Palm down from the end of the thigh or table. Hold the forearm in place as you bend the wrist upward and repeat.
- Wrist flexion: The muscle group opposite the wrist extensors are the wrist flexors. These are small muscles attached to the elbow that are also prone to overuse, leading to inflammation and pain. Hold a light- to medium-weight dumbbell and place your forearm on your thigh or a table while letting your wrist hang Palm up from the end of the thigh or table. Hold the forearm in place while bending the wrist upward and repeat this exercise. This exercise is also known as wrist flexion.
Your doctor may recommend steroid injections to relieve inflammation and pain. Steroid injections are often used as a last resort for tennis elbow because they can cause bothersome side effects, including pain at the injection site, atrophy, and damage to the tendon around the elbow. Physical therapy, splints and braces, blood injections, shockwave therapy, and surgery are some of the more advanced treatments for treating tennis elbow.
Rest is the first choice for treating tennis elbow, as this allows the body to heal itself. The use of an anti-inflammatory agent and the alternation of heat and ice are the second steps of the treatment. For longer support during healing, devices called “tennis elbow straps” are helpful, which are designed to relieve pressure on the affected area. Exercises, stretches and massages have also been shown to be effective.
If none of these traditional options provide a person with the relief they need for their elbow condition, they may consider alternative therapies before surgery. Acupuncture is one of the alternative therapies along with heat therapy, splint treatment, laser therapy, physiotherapy and trigger point therapy.
Acupuncture for tennis elbow
Acupuncture combined with massage has been shown to be effective in treating tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis. Research involving 90 athletes concluded that acupuncture and TCM massage are effective in treating lateral epicondylitis.[1]
The participating athletes were divided into three groups. The 1st group received only acupuncture. The 2nd group received massage only and the 3rd group received a combination of acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine massage. All three groups achieved significantly positive clinical results. The combination of acupuncture and massage improved better compared to the other groups, suggesting a synergistic effect.[2]
In a smaller but similar study of fire needle acupuncture, Participants were treated with fire needle acupuncture on trigger points or ashi points at the most painful points on the affected elbow. The researchers found that patients who received fire needle acupuncture experienced pain relief and were able to move the joint in all directions without restriction.[3]
Massage for tennis elbow
A massage therapist can be helpful in treating tennis elbow pain. A common technique for relieving elbow pain is called friction, or local manipulation of the soft tissue with the fingers and thumbs. Frictions can be done at home without seeking professional help. However, most non-practitioners do not know what to look for or how to administer the treatment, which is why it is best to hire a qualified sports massage therapist. When done correctly, deep tissue massage, stretching, and strengthening of the affected tissue can also be beneficial.[4]
Tennis elbow bandage
A tennis elbow brace or belt on the upper forearm provides compression that can help relieve the symptoms of tennis elbow. The orthosis is most useful when something needs to be twisted or gripped. Wearing a tennis elbow brace or strap around the forearm just below the elbow reduces pressure on the affected tendon and distributes forces throughout the arm.
The fit of the tennis elbow brace or strap is one of the most important factors when choosing a tennis elbow brace. It should fit snugly to provide compression and support without cutting off blood circulation. You should also make sure that it is a breathable orthosis that absorbs sweat when worn. A good elbow band, strap or brace combined with appropriate rest and anti-inflammatory aids is the simplest and most natural form of therapy and the way most people would treat tennis elbow.
Tennis elbow surgery
Surgical treatment of tennis elbow should only be used as a last resort. Tennis elbow surgery may be recommended if symptoms do not respond to non-surgical treatments after 6 to 12 months. Most tennis elbow surgical procedures involve removing the diseased muscle and reattaching the healthy muscle to the bone using arthroscopic surgery. Arthroscopic surgery allows visualization of the elbow joint to ensure there is no other source of pain, as well as removal of the damaged tendon without detaching the tendon from the bone. Unfortunately, several studies suggest that surgery may not be effective for long-term treatment of tennis elbow.[5] [6]
How long does tennis elbow take to heal?
Once you rest and begin therapy, you will likely feel better in 2 to 4 weeks, but it may take up to 6 to 12 months for the tendon to heal. In extreme cases, the pain lasts two years or longer. If your pain and symptoms do not improve after 6 weeks of home treatment, your doctor may initially suggest a corticosteroid injection, which may provide you with short-term relief so that you can begin rehabilitation therapies and exercises.
