You don’t have to be a tennis player to be diagnosed with tennis elbow, otherwise known as lateral epicondylitis.
What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow occurs when there is degeneration or microtearing in the tendons that connect the forearm muscles to your elbow. This injury is common in people who perform repeated gripping or lifting activities. It can occur in painters and carpenters, in addition to people who play racquet sports like tennis or pickleball.
Most people experience discomfort on the outside of the elbow (lateral) where the wrist extensor muscles attach to the bone. The pain is usually triggered by elbow and wrist movements, as well as gripping during simple activities, such as turning a doorknob. It can feel tender to touch, and you might also notice some weakness while attempting to grip or lift an item.
Since it is considered an overuse injury, it is not uncommon for tennis elbow to return on and off based on your activity. It can also get better on its own, but it is important to seek help if the pain persists.
How can physical therapy help?
Physical therapy is an effective intervention for managing tennis elbow by reducing pain, rebuilding tendon strength and restoring arm movement.
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Manual therapy including soft tissue mobilizations to the forearm musculature
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Therapeutic exercise focusing on strengthening of the:
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Wrist - Lengthening the forearm muscles under control while resisting a weight
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Forearm
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Shoulder - Shoulder muscles need to be strong to reduce the load on the smaller forearm and wrist muscles
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Functional dry needling
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Activity modification such as keeping the wrist in a neutral position when gripping or carrying objects
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Recommendations on a wrist splint to allow for forearm muscles to rest by keeping the wrist in a neutral position
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Taping for short-term relief or to wear during activity
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Manage pain and inflammation with cryotherapy or icing the affected area after activity for a few minutes
To schedule an appointment with Parkview Therapy Services, visit us here.
References
Tennis Elbow: What Is It? How Do I Get Back to My Regular Activities?
