Did you know that most people who get diagnosed with tennis elbow don’t actually play tennis? Tennis elbow is the nickname for a painful condition called lateral epicondylitis which causes pain in and around your elbows due to repetitive motions and overuse. This type of overuse injury was named after a sport in which you use your arms and elbows in a repetitive motion a lot, but it isn’t unique to tennis players. Certain jobs can even lead to tennis elbow, like painters or carpenters. If you struggle with elbow pain and aren’t sure what to do about it, then visit a doctor and learn more about physiotherapy and other available treatments to provide you with lasting pain relief.
Understanding Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury that is caused by repetitive motions that aggravate the muscles, tendons, and soft tissues that support your elbow. If you’ve ever painted a room in your house before, then think of that painting motion and how much your forearms, wrists, and elbows had to work. That kind of repetitive motion in sports or your job can cause you to develop tennis elbow. It is actually one of the most common injuries for young athletes.
The most common symptom of tennis elbow is pain on your elbow that may also affect your forearm and wrist. You may also start to have difficulty with certain arm motions that involve your elbow and wrist. In some cases, you may lose grip strength and mobility in your wrist. Hand and arm movements that occur over and over can put too much pressure on the musculature that supports your elbow, which can cause tightening, inflammation, and even tearing. Swollen tendons and strained or torn muscles around your elbows and forearms can really cause you a lot of pain and discomfort.
Tennis Elbow Treatment Options
When it comes to treating tennis elbow, the first thing you probably want to know about is pain management. It is also important to address the root cause of the pain so you can experience true and lasting healing. Here are three treatment options for tennis elbow and how they can help you:
1. At-Home Care
For mild cases of tennis elbow, you might find that there are therapeutic treatments you can do at home to manage your pain and discomfort. Pain medications you can get over-the-counter can help to manage your pain and help address swelling. Resting your elbows and taking a break from these repetitive motions is also important to pain relief. When you rest in between activities, you give your muscles and tendons time for them to heal. Icing the area can also help address swelling and inflammation that may develop after you finish participating in the repetitive motions or activities.
2. Physiotherapy
Visit a physical therapist if your ongoing elbow pain is affecting your quality of life. Physiotherapy is a great option for a non-invasive treatment approach to address aggravated muscles and tendons. Your physical therapist will want to learn more about your routines and discuss how you can incorporate the right amount of rest so your arms have a chance to heal. However, too much rest can lead to stiff muscles and a loss of mobility. When you go to physiotherapy, you can learn different stretches and exercises to help you warm up your muscles before you participate in activities that have caused you pain in the past. You can also learn how to stretch and strengthen your arm muscles to provide more support and stability to the elbow joint. A physical therapist will help you manage your pain while also focusing on strength, stability, and mobility.
3. Preventative Care
A key aspect of treating a painful condition like tennis elbow is to learn how to prevent experiencing this type of pain in the future. Talk to your physical therapist about preventative stretches and exercises that can help you when participating in that sport or job again. In order to prevent tennis elbow, your physical therapist may recommend you wear a brace to help provide your elbow and wrist with more support. You can also speak with an athletic trainer or your physical therapist about ways to improve your technique, whether on the field or on the job.
If you struggle with elbow pain, visit our doctors at AICA Orthopedics in Lithia Springs to learn more about how physiotherapy can help you.