What Is Tennis Elbow
The fancy term for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis. This is where the tendons and muscles around the elbow joint gets irritated and overloaded causing pain.
What Causes Tennis Elbow
Despite the name, you don’t have to play tennis to get tennis elbow. This is quite common in people with occupations that require repetitive motions, eg carpenters and painters. Some causes include:
- Gripping and twisting actions
- Typing
- Knitting
- Repetitive movements with the elbow
- Extra force through the elbow
- Impact to the outside of the elbow
- Starting a new sport/ exercises
What Are The Symptoms Of Tennis Elbow
- Weakness when using your hand
- Pain in your outer elbow, forearm or wrist, especially when twisting and gripping objects
- Aching pain that travels down from the elbow towards the wrist
- Tight muscles in your forearm
- Throbbing pain
- Difficulty gripping objects like a knife and fork, writing with a pen, twisting a door handle or holding a mug
How Can Physios Treat Tennis Elbow
Physiotherapists can help people with tennis elbow by using treatment methods to reduce pain and strength work aiming to regain function.
Treatment techniques include:
- Acupuncture/ Dry needling
- Ultrasound treatment to calm down any inflammation
- Massage
- Trigger point therapy
- Elbow taping or a brace
- Advice of what to avoid, how to modify activities
- Gentle stretches and exercises
I hope this post has been helpful. If would like some more information, you might also find these posts interesting :
If you struggle with tennis elbow and would like some help, please give us a call on 8356 1379 to make an appointment.
Zeenia Amro
Physio, Dry Needling, Pilates
