What is Tennis Elbow?
Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is the swelling of the tendons that bend your wrist backward away from your palm.
Causes of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is often caused by the force of the tennis racket hitting balls in the backhand position and can cause the muscles attached to the outside of your elbow to become sore from excessive strain. Tennis elbow may also be caused by:
- Weak shoulder and wrist muscles
- Improper backhand stroke
- Using a racket that is too short
However, tennis elbow is not always caused by playing tennis. This problem can be caused by other repetitive movements, including:
- Painting with a brush or roller
- Operating a chain saw
- Frequent use of hand tools
- Using repeated hand motions, like musicians or dentists.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
People that experience tennis elbow do not always necessarily experience the same symptoms. Common symptoms include:
- Pain, burning or aching along the outside of your forearm and elbow that gets worse with time.
- Pain with putting your arm and hand palm-side down on a table.
- Pain with applying resistance to the hand.
- Pain when lifting and gripping small objects, like a coffee cup.
- Weak grip
Diagnosis and Treatment for Tennis Elbow
Your healthcare provider can typically diagnose tennis elbow based off a physical examination. However, in some cases, more testing may be necessary, such as:
- X-ray to look at the bones of your elbow.
- MRI – show your tendons and the severity of the damage.
- EMG – may show nerve problems that can be causing pain.
Besides avoiding the movement that caused your tennis elbow in the first place, other treatments may include:
- Ice packs
- Strengthening and stretching exercises
- Anti-inflammatory medicines
- Bracing the area to keep it still for a few weeks.
- Steroid injections
Follow your healthcare providers recommendations to get rest and manage pain and swelling. Let your provider know if these strategies do not help to reduce pain or swelling.