Tennis elbow is a condition that affects tennis players, other athletes, or people who work in jobs with repetitive movements with their arms, leading to pain and inflammation on the inside of your elbow. This can be frustrating because many think you are being soft if you complain about it. However, in most cases, it is a normal condition related to the tendons in your arm, and in some cases, can be a sign of a more severe problem.
Tennis elbow affects approximately 2% of the US population at any one time. The usual symptoms are pain inside your forearm near the elbow, radiating into your upper arm. When you bend your wrist or grip something, you may feel pain at the outside of your elbow. If you have symptoms, you should see a Houston tennis elbow specialist for treatment.
Symptoms
The usual symptoms are pain inside your forearm near the elbow, radiating into your upper arm. When you bend your wrist or grip something, you may feel pain outside your elbow and sometimes in your bicep.
Tennis elbow is thought to be one form of tendonitis, inflammation in a band of tissue that attaches bone to muscle. The area where this problem occurs is a sheath surrounding the muscles and tendons in your forearm, called the common extensor tendon. Your wrist and finger flexor tendons pass through it as they form into one thick band just above your elbow.
Treatment Options
The good news is that, in most cases, the pain of the tennis elbow goes away when you stop using the affected limb for several weeks. During this time, it’s essential to take care of yourself. Reduce your pain by resting and icing.
Many exercises can strengthen your forearm muscles and improve their function. It is vital to maintain the muscles that flex your wrist and fingers, as well as those that straighten your elbow. You can try wearing a tennis elbow support or splint to take pressure off the area while it heals.
There are many self-care options available to treat both acute and chronic elbow pain from the tennis elbow. If you are in pain, these options may help to reduce your symptoms and put you on track for recovery.
Prevention
If you are an athlete or do a job that requires repetitive arm use, it’s essential to take time to warm up before exercising. Stretching your arms, shoulder, and back muscles can help protect them from injury. You may also want to stretch your elbow joint specifically by doing the following exercise:
- Hold a lightweight dumbbell in your hand.
- Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Bend at the waist and let your arm hang down toward the floor.
- Slowly rotate your wrist so that it turns out, then up, then in again to face the floor. Do this ten times for three sets of these rotations twice a day.
In summary, tennis elbow is a condition that affects people who work in jobs with repetitive movements with their arms, leading to pain and inflammation on the inside of your elbow. It is mainly characterized by pain inside your forearm near the elbow that may also radiate into your upper arm. A treatment especially involves physiotherapy. You can prevent the condition by warming up before activity.
