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Tennis Elbow
WHAT IS IT?
Tennis elbow is pain in the outside of the elbow, often localised to the outermost part of the bone (lateral epicondyle). This is caused by the tension from the common attachment of the forearm extensor muscles (the ones that allow you to open your hand). These muscles connect to the bone via a tendon. When the muscles are tight, this causes pulling and irritation to the tendon which in turn can cause irritation to attachment of the tendon to the bone – hence the focal soreness and tenderness on palpation. Notably, often patients will report some radiating symptoms into the forearm, particularly in parts of those muscles which are closest to the outside of the elbow.
WHY “TENNIS” ELBOW?
The nature of the extensors muscles is that they are involved in both grip, and extension of the wrist. The most common way to represent these combined movements is if you were holding a racquet (or perhaps even riding a motorcycle).
OTHER COMMON NAMES:
Lateral epicondylitis and extensor tendinopathy
** Note “golfers elbow” is essentially the same pathology, but on the inside of the elbow, rather than the outside **
WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?
As discussed in previous posts, load is the biggest consideration. Has there been a spike (increase) in load? Perhaps you’ve been inspired by the Australian Open and taken up tennis, or perhaps you’ve been spending more time in the gym or painting around home, or even more time on the computer– whatever the reason, a sudden increase in gripping and extending activity can result in a flare up of tennis elbow.
PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT
Physiotherapy treatment will begin with taking a detailed history to determine where your spike in load has come from. From here, a combination of a structured progressive home exercise program as well as manual therapy will be utilised to provide pain relief, coupled with a discussion of your individual risk management strategies to facilitate pain relief and the maintenance of function.