Tennis Elbow Can Be Painful
By Samantha Kay
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is the most common injury patients seek medical attention for when experiencing elbow pain. Doctors are unsure what exactly causes tennis elbow; however, it is thought to be caused by small tears in the tendons that attach forearm muscles to the elbow bone.
There are several ideas about how tennis elbow can occur. It is commonly known that it is not just an inflammation of the tendons around the joint, but more of a breakdown caused by repetitive use or aging. Some think that the symptoms experienced may be a result of not having proper blood flow to the area, preventing oxygen and nutrition from healing the area.
People who may have tennis elbow can experience pain in the elbow that is often more painful when the wrist is moved backwards or items are grasped. The most common symptoms include:
- Pain on the outside of the elbow
- Pain when lifting or grasping objects
- Feeling of pain running down the forearm
Most often, experiencing tennis elbow can be a gradual discomfort, or it can also appear suddenly. Most patients who seek medical help for tennis elbow are between the ages of 30 and 60, and it can easily affect an equal number of men and women. In most cases, tennis elbow can affect the patient in the dominant arm.
Despite the name, tennis elbow does not directly affect just tennis players. The two groups of people that it affects the most are manual workers, since they tend to work more with their hands, putting more stress on the joints, and sports players. Most racquet sports players experience it more, but tennis elbow can also affect golfers.
Special tests are not needed to diagnose tennis elbow. Most often, x-rays are used, unless there may be confusion about the diagnosis, and then an EMG test is used to clarify the situation. Other causes of pain that can be confused as tennis elbow are elbow arthritis and radial tunnel syndrome.
It is important to bring to your doctor's attention if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Elbow pain that occurs while sleeping
- Swelling or bruising in the elbow area or arm
- Inability to carry objects or use the arm for grasping and holding
- Elbow pain that last for days
- Not being able to flex or straighten the arm
There are many treatments for tennis elbow that can be successful for up to 90% of patients. Changing your lifestyle is important if tennis elbow pain does not go away. Most often, athletes can fix the problem by changing or improving mobility techniques. Anti-inflammatory medications can also be very useful in controlling pain and inflammation, since they are easy to take and can manage pain.
An elbow brace can also be beneficial, since using the brace will keep muscles in proper alignment. Patients are able to use the brace during activities, which can relieve pain. Exercises are also helpful in preventing tennis elbow. By strengthening the muscles and tendons associated with tennis elbow, you can help reduce the chances of the pain returning again. Having tennis elbow can be sometimes painful, but there are often many ways to heal and strengthen the muscles and tendons to prevent it from happening again.
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