Tennis Elbow

Most of us have heard the term tennis elbow before.  But what exactly is it?  Tennis elbow (tedinitis) is the inflammation or swelling of the tendons in the elbow caused by the overuse of the muscles in your forearm. Golfer’s elbow is the same problem but on the inside of the elbow.  Funny thing is, you don’t need to be a tennis player or a golfer to have tendinitis

Identifying the Pain

On the outside of your elbow is a bony distinction that is called the lateral epicondyle.  If there is tenderness at this point, then you most likely have tennis elbow.  If you press on the inside of your elbow, there is another bony prominence.  We call this the medial epicondyle.  If you are experiencing tenderness here, it is likely the medial epicondylitis.  This is more commonly known as golfer’s elbow.

 

What to Do

Generally, there are a few things that you can do to alleviate your elbow pain.

  • Heavy Objects – Avoid lifting and gripping to allow your elbow to rest and recover.  If an action is causing elbow pain, continuing the movement may worsen the condition.
  • Stretch – Perform gentle stretches to the forearm.  These stretches should be performed 3-5 times per day.
  • Physical Therapy – This can help restore the mechanics of the elbow joints that allow it to move efficiently and help to minimize the strain on your elbow.
  • Modalities –Ice, ultrasound, phonophoresis or iontophoresis can help decrease inflammation.