Do You Have Tennis Elbow?
Many people will experience elbow pain at some point in their lives. In some cases, but not all, this could be tennis elbow. Identifying the source of your pain is important if you want to pursue effective management and treatment.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Also referred to as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow causes pain to the outer bony part of the elbow, known as the lateral epicondyle. This pain could also reach into the forearm and wrist. It may be worse when you try to bend or straighten your arm. The cause of tennis elbow is inflammation in the tendons connecting the forearm muscles to the elbow joint.
The condition is known as tennis elbow because the repetitive movement of swinging a tennis racket, particularly a backhand swing, can increase the risk of tearing and inflammation to these tendons. It is also common in carpenters, painters, plumbers, butchers, musicians and even people who spend a lot of time using a computer mouse.
How Is It Diagnosed?
You can distinguish tennis elbow from other pain primarily by its location, specifically the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist. A professional medical diagnosis generally only requires you to describe your symptoms and maybe have a brief physical examination. Imaging technology such as MRIs may assess the condition’s severity. To rule out other potential causes, such as pinched or compressed nerves, electromyography can be used.
How Is It Treated?
Heat packs, cold packs or anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen may alleviate the pain of tennis elbow. You should avoid painful activities but try to continue gentle exercise and stretching. A physiotherapist can recommend appropriate exercises. Some people will wear a stabilising strap or brace around the elbow or wrist. You may also choose to visit Purelands Chiro or another chiropractor Tewkesbury for adjustments to encourage healing in your elbow.
For most people, tennis elbow is easy to diagnose and resolve, but it does first require you to understand the nature of the condition. You should soon be able to return to your regular activities without pain.