Tennis elbow is the condition in which there is sore and tendering of the outer part of the elbow. It can happen to anybody but is more prevalent in tennis and other racquet sport playing people.
In tennis players it is due to hitting huge amount of balls that causes tiny tears in the tendon of the forearm at the site of attachment to the elbow. It is supposed to be caused due to overuse of the lateral epicondyle. It can be caused due to plumbing tools, raking, weaving or painting.
People having repetitive movements for more than two hours a day, smoking and age between 30 to 60 years are the risk factors for developing tennis elbow.
Pain of the outer part of the elbow (lateral epicondyle) that radiates into the forearm and wrist, point tenderness of the outer part of the elbow pain, pain while activities requiring muscle movements to extend wrist like handshake or turning the door knob, inability to hold object in the hand, weakness in forearm, and morning stiffness.
Tennis elbow is diagnosed on the basis of medical history, clinical signs and symptoms, physical examination, X-ray, ultrasound and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
Generally tennis elbow gets cured of its own in two months to six months time period. The self care treatment includes application of ice or heat, use of counter force brace or tennis elbow strap and anti-inflammatory drugs. Rest is important for healing the tears. For more serious injury along with the mentioned therapies analysis of arm movement, stretching exercise, soft tissue massage, ultrasound therapy and surgery are the treatments.
Other treatments are platelet rich plasma, acupuncture, physical therapy, occupational therapy, sclerotherapy, trigger point therapy, pulsed ultrasound, botulinum toxin, heat therapy, blood injection, extra-corporeal shock therapy (lithotripsy), low level laser therapy, immobilization of forearm or local injection of cortisone.However, all these treatments do not have enough scientific support.
Most of the patients of tennis elbow improve without surgery. Most of the people having surgery get symptomatic relief. Tendons may get ruptured due to repeated injections of steroids. There may be recurrent symptoms due to overuse.
Proper warm up, building strength, keeping the wrist straight, application of ice after every heavy use, reviewing the technique and involvement of whole body instead of only wrist can prevent tennis elbow.
