Tennis Elbow | Muskaan Dental & Physiotherapy Clinic

Who doesn’t know about Sachin Tendulkar and his Tennis Elbow Problem !!

Although thought to be associated with sportsmen this condition is commonly seen in housewives.Activities like squeezing clothes ,carrying a heavy bucket,carrying a suitcase etc.can cause this problem.

Tennis Elbow or Lateral Epicondylitis is a condition when the outer part of the elbow becomes painful and tender, usually as a result of a specific strain, overuse, or a direct bang. Sometimes no specific cause is found. Tennis Elbow is similar to Golfers elbow which affects the other side of the elbow.

Symptoms

The outer part of the elbow is painful and tender to touch. Movements of the elbow, and also movements which involve lifting, with the hand on top, hurt.

Causes

Although called tennis elbow, lateral epicondylitis is much more commonly seen in people who are over using their arm doing something else. It could equally well be called “plasterer’s elbow” or “mechanic’s elbow” or “painter’s elbow”.

The most common cause is over use of the muscles which are attached to the bone at this part of the elbow. That is to say, the muscles which pull the hand backwards (the wrist extensors). All the extensor muscles of the hand attach to the elbow at the outer part (the lateral epicondyle). If they are strained or over used they become inflamed, which means they are swollen, painful and tender to touch.

Sometimes the inflammation is caused by a direct injury or bang. Sometimes, especially when the cause is direct injury or strain, the muscles are actually partially torn.

Rarely the inflammation comes on without any definite cause, and this may be due to an arthritis, rheumatism or gout. Sometimes the problem is partly or completely due to a neck problem, which is causing pain in the elbow via the nerves from the neck.

Diagnosis

Your Physiotherapist will test for tenderness over or near to the bony bump on the outside of the elbow. He or she will also test to see whether the pain gets worse when you bend the wrist back (extend it) against resistance. In the event of both these signs being present, it is likely that you have tennis elbow.

Your doctor may also examine your neck, as this may be the cause, or part of the problem. After all many of the things that might strain your elbow might also put a strain on your neck.

Treatment

Rest helps, with avoidance of the activities which over use the elbow.
Use of anti inflamatory drugs and steroidal injections in some cases.
Physiotherapy is a very useful in this condition.Treatments like Ultrasound,Wax bath,TENS and Shortwave diathermy are very helpful. Your Physiotherapist may advise a brace.This is very helpful as it reduces the amount you can use your elbow. You may also be advised stretching and strengthening exercises.

So contact us today on +(91) 989-116-1025 or (+91) 989-921-3413 for a no-obligation consultation or to source out information about how Muskaan can benefit you or your loved ones.