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What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is a common injury and got its' name because tennis players tended to get it. It is inflammation or degeneration of the tendon that attaches to the bony bit (lateral epicondyle) on the outside of the arm. The cause in tennis is a bad backhand technique or a grip that is too small. The majority of people getting this are between 40 and 50 yrs but it can affect any age. (Is this because 40 - 50 yr olds are the ones with more time to play?)

Hitting backhands with a wrist action will put far too much strain on the elbow. The wrist should be firm and not bent when the ball is struck so the forces can be spread over the arm, shoulder and the rest of the body.

Tennis elbow can be a difficult injury to treat so it is important you do the correct thing as early as possible. The symptoms for this injury are very similar to Entrapment of the radial nerve which I recommend you also have a look at.

Symptoms include: Pain on the bony bit (lateral epicondyle) on the outside of the elbow, or 1-2cm forward of it on the tendon. Weakness in the wrist. Pain in the outside of the elbow when you bend the hand back (extend) at the wrist against resistance. Pain on the outside of the elbow when you try to straighten the fingers against resistance. Pain when you press in on the bony bit on the outside of the elbow.

What should you do about it?

• Ice the injury for two days (20 mins on up to six times a day)
• Rest.
• A number of braces and supports are also available to help reduce the load on the elbow enabling it to heal.
• After 2 days apply heat and use a heat retainer that covers the whole elbow.
• Stretch the tendon gently
• When pain allows start a rehabilitation programme.

What can a sports injury specialist or doctor do?

• Apply ultrasound or laser treatment.
• Use massage therapy (cross frictions)
• Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication.
• Give a steroid injection.
• Operate - if the usual treatments have failed for about a year then this might be considered.
  

  Rest is a very important component in the healing of this injury. It may heal quickly within two weeks but you could suffer with this problem for up to two years. When the symptoms have settled down it is essential you fully rehabilitate and strengthen the elbow and follow guidelines that will help you avoid the injury in the future:

• Correct technique - play the backhand with the arm not the wrist!
• Use a forearm brace or heat retainer if you have a weak wrist or elbow.
• Do not play with wet, heavy balls.
• Use a light racket if you do not play very often.
• Make sure your strings are not too tight.

Top tips

Correct technique - play the backhand with the arm not the wrist!

Use a forearm brace or heat retainer if you have a weak wrist or elbow.

Strengthen the muscles up with exercises.

Do not play with wet, heavy balls.

Use a light racket if you do not play very often.

Make sure your strings are not too tight.

Other causes of similar elbow pain:

Entrapment of the radial nerve.

Pain referred from the neck - particularly C5 - C6 region of the spine.

Rehabilitation of Tennis Elbow

Many thanks to Mike from Sports Injury Clinic for rights to this article