Tennis elbow is soreness or pain on the outside (lateral) side of the upper arm near the elbow.
Tennis elbow is caused by doing the same forceful arm movements over and over. It creates small, painful tears in the tendons in your elbow.
This injury can be caused by tennis, other racquet sports, and activities such as turning a wrench, prolonged typing, or chopping with a knife. The outside (lateral) elbow tendon is most commonly injured. The inside (medial) and backside (posterior) tendons can also be affected.
Causes
The part of the muscle that attaches to a bone is called a tendon. Some of the muscles in your forearm attach to the bone on the outside of your elbow.
When you use these muscles over and over again, small tears develop in the tendon. Over time, this leads to irritation and pain where the tendon is attached to the bone.
This injury is common in people who play a lot of tennis or other racket sports, hence the name “tennis elbow.” Backhand is the most common stroke to cause symptoms.
But any activity that involves repetitive twisting of the wrist (like using a screwdriver) can lead to this condition. Painters, plumbers, construction workers, cooks, and butchers are all more likely to develop tennis elbow.
This condition may also be due to constant computer keyboard and mouse use.
People between 35 to 54 years old are commonly affected.
Sometimes, there is no known cause of tennis elbow.
Symptoms
Symptoms can include any of the following:
- Elbow pain that gets worse over time
- Pain that radiates from the outside of the elbow to the forearm and back of the hand when grasping or twisting
- Weak grasp
Diagnosis
Your health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. The exam may show:
- Pain or tenderness when the tendon is gently pressed near where it attaches to the upper arm bone, over the outside of the elbow
- Pain near the elbow when the wrist is bent backward against resistance
- An MRI may be done to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
The first step is to rest your arm for 2 or 3 weeks and avoid or modify the activity that causes your symptoms. You may also want to:
- Put ice on the outside of your elbow 2 to 3 times a day
- Take NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin
If your tennis elbow is due to sports activity, you may want to:
- Ask your provider about any changes you can make to your technique
- Check the sports equipment you are using to see if any changes may help. If you play tennis, changing the grip size of the racket may help
- Think about how often you play, and whether you should cut back
If your symptoms are related to working on a computer, ask your manager about changing your workstation or your chair, desk, and computer setup. For example, a wrist support or a roller mouse may help.
A physical therapist can show you exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of your forearm.
You can buy a special brace (night splint) for tennis elbow at most drugstores. It wraps around the upper part of your forearm and takes some of the pressure off the muscles.
Your provider may also inject cortisone and a numbing medicine around the area where the tendon attaches to the bone. This may help decrease the swelling and pain.
If the pain continues after 6 months of rest and treatment, surgery may be recommended. Talk with your orthopedic surgeon about the risks and whether surgery might help.
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