Tennis elbow is a physical condition where the outer part of elbow becomes tender and painful. This can be due to overuse of strain to specific region. Tennis elbow is also known as lateral epicondylitis. Even though the condition is named tennis elbow, it is not restricted to tennis players. Any individuals who does repetitive works using wrist or elbow or those who are taking heavy weights continuously are prone to this illness.
The symptoms of the condition include tenderness in lateral epicondyle region. There will be severe pain radiating to extensor aspects of fore arm. There will be restriction in wrist and elbow movements, especially during weightlifting. In later stages or injury, lifting simple weights like a cup of tea will be much painful with tenderness in elbows. The pain alleviates during late night and if left untreated during initial stages, tennis elbow develops chronic and will be hard to eradicate.
Tennis Elbow Treatment Methods
Tennis players are more prone to this complaint. As a preliminary step, they go for cold compression therapy. This method consists of treating the painful region with ice and compression for preventing inflammation. Pain killers are also used to control pain. But from results, these methods are less effective. The movement range will be limited by using a brace. For successful relief of pain, ergonomic considerations are also effective.
Primary Measures
The primary choices of treatment include icing, rest and compression. For cold compression therapy, excellent products are now available. Pain killers and non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID) are also recommended.
Stretching and Strengthening Exercises
Exercises that help to stretch and strengthen wrist and upper hand muscles will help to prevent re-irradiation of pain. To increase wrist flexion strength, weight or elastic therabands can be used which strengthen muscles progressively.
Physiotherapy
Ultra sound therapy is a technique used in physiotherapy to reduce inflammation and promotes production of collagen. Manual therapy is another method to increase mobilization or manipulations of elbow joint or extensor muscle tissue movements. Nerve tension tests will be conducted by physiotherapist to decide about nerve mobilization. A temporary pain relief is also given by elbow clasps.
Steroid Injections
Injecting glucocorticoid steroid locally can resolve the episodes for several weeks. But this cannot stop later recurrence. It will take some days for steroid to settle down and to start action. Till then the pain will not be relieved. Due to the risk of side effects and ineffectiveness, most doctors restrict steroid injections after two.
Surgical methods are considered as last option and consist of releasing common extensor origin. |
