Playing tennis, paddel or golf can cause this condition but any overuse can lead to it.
The tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition of the elbow that is caused by overuse or in a few cases from the neck/ cervical spine. Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. The forearm muscles and tendons become damaged repeating the same motions again and again. This leads to pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow.
With physiotherapy you can treat very well the tennis elbow especially with dry needing acupuncture.
The elbow joint is made up of three bones: the humerus (upper arm bone) and the two bones in the forearm (radius and ulna). There are “bony bumps” at the bottom of the humerus, they are called epicondyles. The “bony bump” on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow is called the lateral epicondyle.
Muscles, tendons and ligaments hold the elbow joint together.
Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, involves the muscles and tendons of the forearm. The forearm muscles extend your wrist and fingers. Your forearm tendons — often called extensors — attach the muscles to bone.
Symptoms
The symptoms develop gradually. In most cases, the pain begins mild and slowly and worsens over weeks and months. There is usually no specific injury associated with the start of symptoms.
Common signs and symptoms of tennis elbow include:
- Pain or burning on the outer part of your elbow sometimes until the fingers
- Weak grip strength
The symptoms are often worsened with forearm activity, such as holding a racquet, turning a wrench, or shaking hands. Your dominant arm is most often affected; however both arms can be.
Causes for a tennis elbow
Athletes are not the only people who get tennis elbow. Many people with tennis elbow participate in work or recreational activities that require repetitive and vigorous use of the forearm muscle. Painters, plumbers, and carpenters are particularly prone to developing tennis elbow. Studies have shown that auto workers, cooks, and even butchers get tennis elbow more often than the rest of the population. It is thought that the repetition and weight lifting required in these occupations leads to injury.
Most people who get tennis elbow are between the ages of 30 and 50, although anyone can get tennis elbow if they have the risk factors. In some cases Lateral epicondylitis can occur without any recognized repetitive injury.
Treatment
Approximately 80% to 95% of patients have success with nonsurgical treatment. The first step toward recovery is to give your arm proper rest. This means that you will have to stop participation in sports or heavy work activities. Physiotherapy, especially Manual therapy and Acupuncture as well as special exercises help to relieve pain and heal the inflammation.
