Can I have the Tennis Elbow even though I don’t play tennis?
What is Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)?
Tennis Elbow is swelling in the tendons around the outside of the elbow. During movements that require the use of our wrists and hands, the swelling tendon causes pain and leads to weakness in the forearm or handgrip. It is common in both men and women usually over the age of 30, in the dominant arm.
Tennis Elbow symptoms
A classic symptom would be pain that resembles a dull ache along the outside of the elbow which may radiate down the forearm. The elbow pain often gets progressively worse and is exacerbated by activities that require repetitive wrist movements or gripping.
What causes Tennis Elbow?
Tennis Elbow is an injury of overuse. This condition occurs as a result of prolonged, repetitive, and often forceful movements involving the wrist and hand. This is often reported in athletes who play tennis (hence the name) but is common in many other groups of people. Causes include:
- Picking up heavy objects with hands
- Repetitive mixing while cooking
- Painting or frequent use of hand tools
- Repetitive motions used in certain occupations such as butchers, musicians, dentists, and carpenters.
- Athletes who participate in racquet sports. E.g. Tennis and Badmington.
What Tennis Elbow Treatments are available?
The first step in treating this condition involves identifying and ceasing the activities that caused the initial injury, and relieving pain, followed by physical therapy and if required medical interventions for more severe cases.
- Rest and activity modification: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be used as the first line of treatment to relieve pain, and allow the elbow to rest.
- Physical therapy: Increasing the strength of the arm, shoulder, and wrist muscles can be beneficial in treating Tennis Elbow and preventing relapse. A physiotherapist or an exercise physiologist can provide this for you.
- Dry needling therapy: dry needling has been shown to provide effective pain relief that is minimally invasive and has very few side effects (Ma et al., 2024). This involves inserting a tiny needle into the muscle to relieve tension and stimulate the body’s natural healing response.
- Steroid injections may be given by a healthcare provider for pain relief and can be effective for around 3 months. The exercise program must still be followed during this time and thereafter, as these injections will not provide a permanent solution.
If you are concerned and unsure of how to proceed with your elbow pain, please make an appointment with one of our friendly Shailer Park physiotherapists or exercise physiologists for Tennis Elbow pain relief who will provide you with an appropriate treatment plan.
Book now for your journey to recovery.
