Tennis Elbow is a general term used to describe pain on the outside of the elbow. The most common causes are inflammation or degeneration of the tendon of the wrist extensor muscles which insert into the elbow.
Those engaged in strenuous sports such as tennis, climbing, swimming and those working primarily where the forearms are involved, such as waiters or musicians, can be vulnerable to this kind of injury. Repeating some types of activity over and over again can put too much strain on the elbow tendons.
Acute injuries occur immediately after an activity such as hitting a backhand shot in tennis with poor technique. The extensor muscles on the back of the forearm (wrist extensors) suddenly become overloaded causing micro-tears of the tendon which attaches to the elbow.
Chronic injuries on the other hand normally develop over a period of days/weeks and usually follow bouts of intense exercise/activity that the patient is unaccustomed to, such as lifting heavy items.
This injury can be very troublesome to treat, especially if it becomes chronic, so it is very important to obtain an accurate diagnosis as early as possible. Physiotherapy treatment for this condition is vital to hasten the healing process, ensure an optimal outcome and reduce the likelihood of injury recurrence.
Treatment may include:
Rest
Taping
The use of a tennis elbow brace
Joint mobilisation
Dry needling
Ice or heat treatment
Progressive exercises to improve flexibility, strength and posture
Training and activity modification advice
Soft tissue massage
Technique correction
Education
Anti-inflammatory advice
Devising and monitoring an appropriate return to sport or activity plan