What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is a painful elbow disorder. This term is misleading because most people who have it did not get it from playing tennis. In fact, tennis elbow seldom has any connection with fun and games.
The technical name for tennis elbow is "lateral epicondylitis". This term indicates an inflammation occurring near a small point or projection of the upper arm bone (humerus) just above the elbow joint on the outer side of the arm. However, pain can also occur in other areas of the forearm and elbow. Some experts suggest that "lateral elbow pain syndrome" is a more accurate name, but this term is not yet commonly used.
The pain from tennis elbow comes mainly from injured or damaged tendons near the elbow. Tendons are strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. When repeatedly stressed or overused, tendons can become inflamed. This results in a painful condition called tendonitis, the medical term for inflammation of a tendon. Tennis elbow is simply a specific type of tendonitis that occurs in a particular part of the elbow.
WHAT CAUSES TENNIS ELBOW?
Tennis Elbow can be caused by injury, repetitive movement, strain or the overuse of muscles. Pain is most obvious when gripping objects and extending the arm, such as when swinging a tennis racquet or holding a cup of coffee. Despite its name, Tennis Elbow doesn't just occur in tennis players. Anyone who uses the same movements while gripping items can fall victim. This includes golfers, computer users, machinists, carpenters, mechanics, painters and a host of other professions and activities. When muscles are strained or overused, they become inflamed, and painful to the touch.
Inflammation can also occur from direct injury, such as bangs and bumps. In these cases, muscles generally tear, causing pain and swelling, and recurrance is common.
Inflammation can also occur without definite cause, though this is rarely the case. Arthritis, rheumatism and gout have sometimes caused Tennis Elbow. Persons who suffer neck problems or nerve disorders are also at risk of developing Tennis Elbow.
Other causes of Tennis Elbow include incorrect grips, poor hitting positions, using a metal framed tennis racquet, improperly carrying a briefcase or other heavy object, or spending too much time using isolated muscle groups in the elbow area.
What is the Treatment for Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow requires medical attention as soon as the symptoms appear. Early attention usually prevents the development of a serious disorder. The most important steps in treatment include:
- rest from the activities that cause elbow pain,
- possible use of ice packs or medication to reduce the inflammation, and
- physiotherapy to assess the healing process, restore the elbow to its highest level of function, and assist the worker in returning to work.
Rest from the activities that cause elbow pain is the most important treatment for tennis elbow. This kind of disorder is often called "self-limiting" because it eventually disappears when people change or avoid activities that cause elbow pain. Physicians sometimes give corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation and speed healing. This treatment usually works, but it cannot be used repeatedly.
About one percent of cases last more than one year. For these cases, surgery might be a solution. However, surgery does not always improve the situation.
Finding out what workplace activity was associated with a specific case of tennis elbow is important. Damage to the arms and elbows can become chronic if the activity causing the condition is not changed or discontinued.