Tennis elbow is a condition that affects the tendons and muscles in your arm, causing pain in the elbow and forearm. It’s a common injury among athletes, especially tennis players, but anyone can get it from repeated motions of the arm. Several treatments are available to help relieve the pain of the tennis elbow. But what exactly causes this condition? And how can you prevent it from happening in the first place? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about it.
If you’re an athlete or fitness freak, you know the importance of keeping your body in perfect condition. That’s why we’re here to give you the complete lowdown on it—what causes it, what are the symptoms, and most importantly, how to treat it. Trust us, this is one blog post you don’t want to miss!
What Is Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is an injury that affects the muscles and tendons of your arm, causing pain in the elbow and forearm. It’s a common tennis-related overuse injury that can also occur to anyone who repetitively uses their arms in activities such as golfing, painting, or typing.
This is a common condition that can be prevented and treated if you take the right steps. So make sure to pay attention to your form when playing tennis or engaging in any armed activity that could cause elbow injuries, use proper technique and avoid over-exerting yourself.
Causes Of Tennis Elbow
Repetitive motions of the arm and wrist usually cause tennis elbow. This could be anything from tennis swings to repeatedly hammering in nails. It can also be caused by a single occurrence of over-exertion, such as throwing a heavy object or lifting something too heavy for your arm strength.
In some cases, it might be due to an underlying medical condition such as arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome. This can also be caused by the aging process, as tendons become weaker and more prone to injury with age.
Symptoms:
The most common symptom of elbow injury is pain on the outside of your elbow that increases when you lift or bend your arm. You might also feel tenderness in the same area and weakness in your forearm and wrist.
Other tennis elbow symptoms include decreased grip strength, pain that radiates down your forearm when gripping objects or shaking hands, and stiffness when bending or straightening your arm.
Treatments For Tennis Elbow
Treating tennis elbow usually involves rest and reducing the activity that caused it in the first place. Your doctor may recommend using an elbow brace to reduce strain on the area and give it time to heal.
Physical therapy can also help with the symptoms, as well as strengthening exercises and stretching of your forearm muscles. In severe cases, steroid injections might be used to relieve pain. In rare cases, surgery might be recommended if the condition does not improve with other treatments.
Prevention
- The best way to prevent tennis elbow is to pay attention to your form when playing or engaging in any armed activity that could cause tennis elbow.
- This includes using proper techniques and avoiding over-exerting yourself. If you do experience tennis elbow symptoms, take a break and rest your arm until it’s feeling better.
- You should also make sure to warm up before playing tennis or any other sport with repetitive arm motions.
- Wearing an elbow brace can also help reduce the risk of tennis elbow, as well as using tennis racquets with larger grips to reduce strain on your wrist.
At the end of the day, tennis elbow is a common injury that can be prevented if you take the right steps. Take it slow, use proper form and technique, and give yourself time to rest when needed. With these tips, you’ll be back on the tennis court in no time!
What Doctors Say
Dr. Jeffrey Sinkin is an orthopedic surgeon at the University of California San Diego Medical Center. Recommends “resting the affected arm and avoiding activities that cause or aggravate its symptoms until the inflammation subsides.” He also suggests using an elbow brace to reduce strain on the area. As well as, gentle stretching and strengthening exercises to prevent its symptoms from worsening.
In addition, Dr. Sinkin recommends using tennis racquets with larger grips to reduce strain on the wrist. He also notes that in cases of severe tennis elbow pain, steroid injections might be used to provide relief. In rare cases, surgery may be recommended if the condition does not improve with other treatments.
FAQs
How can tennis elbow be prevented?
The best way to prevent it is to pay attention to your form when playing tennis or engaging in any armed activity that could cause this injury. This includes using proper techniques and avoiding over-exerting yourself. If you do experience any symptoms, take a break and rest your arm until it’s feeling better. You should also make sure to warm up before playing tennis or any other sport with repetitive arm motions. Wearing a brace can also help reduce the risk of injury. As well as, using tennis racquets with larger grips to reduce strain on your wrist.
What are some treatments for tennis elbow?
Treating it usually involves rest and reducing the activity that caused it in the first place. Your doctor may recommend using an elbow brace to reduce strain on the area and give it time to heal. Physical therapy can also help with some symptoms, as well as strengthening exercises and stretching of your forearm muscles. In severe cases, steroid injections might be used to relieve pain. In rare cases, surgery might be recommended if the condition does not improve with other treatments.
Why don’t professional tennis players get tennis elbow?
Professional tennis players may still experience tennis elbow. However, they are more likely to take preventive measures such as using proper techniques and avoiding over-exerting themselves. They also typically use tennis racquets with larger grips, which can help reduce strain on the wrist. Furthermore, professional tennis players are usually in peak physical condition. Also, they have access to the best tennis clinics with experienced trainers. This can make a big difference in preventing it and other tennis-related injuries.