One of the injuries the avid tennis player is likely to suffer at some point in his or her career is tennis elbow. It is actually not uncommon in athletes of other sports, such as golf. In fact, many non-athletic individuals have this complaint.
Signs and symptoms of tennis elbow
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, often starts with no specific injury. Tennis players might recall an increase in the frequency of practice or competition, as it is often an overuse injury. At first, certain strokes or positions, such as contact or follow through on backhand strokes, might be the only ones to illicit pain. As the problem continues, a variety of strokes or motions start to cause pain. Even normal daily activities, such as turning a doorknob or lifting heavy objects, can become uncomfortable. It is usually at this point that people usually seek orthopaedic advice.
Exam and tests
In the office, an orthopaedic surgeon will determine that the pain is localized to a small area on the lateral side, or outside, of the elbow. The disease process involves one of the tendons that come off the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow. These tendons are those involved in extending the wrist, so pain extending or turning the wrist against even light resistance can be painful. X-rays are often used to rule out other problems, but in tennis elbow, they are usually unremarkable. Further tests, such as MRI’s, are not usually needed.
Treatment options for tennis elbow
Fortunately for the vast majority of patients, including both athletes and sedentary individuals, tennis elbow frequently resolves without surgery. There are many options for treatment, and they are often used in combination. A tennis elbow strap or brace worn just below the elbow is intended to take pressure off the painful area, and it is worn while doing manual activities. Anti-inflammatory medications and ice, especially after activity, can be helpful. Working with a physical or occupational therapist for stretching and strengthening exercises, and even modalities such as ultrasound, is often recommended. Cortisone injections are often offered, although there is some conflicting data about the effectiveness of these shots in treating the underlying problem. Newer treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma injections, prolotherapy, and shockwave therapy have been suggested, and research is needed to determine their effectiveness. It is thought that the wrong grip size or string tension on the racquet might be an underlying cause of tennis elbow, so seeking the advice of a knowledgeable tennis pro might help prevent the problem from returning.
Surgery for tennis elbow
In the rare patient with continued pain despite long efforts to try to treat the injury with some of these conservative measures, surgery is an option. Most of the time a small incision to find the diseased area of tendon, cut it out, and repair the tendon to bone is the treatment of choice. It is a quick surgery done as an outpatient, but it does require months to return to full activities. For that reason, surgical treatment is often seen as a last resort. New techniques create hope for severe injuries.
Recommended Products and Resources
Click here to go to Dr. David Geier’s Amazon Influencer store!
Due to a large number of questions I have received over the years asking about products for health, injuries, performance, and other areas of sports, exercise, work and life, I have created an Amazon Influencer page. While this information and these products are not intended to treat any specific injury or illness you have, they are products I use personally, have used or have tried, or I have recommended to others. THE SITE MAY OFFER HEALTH, FITNESS, NUTRITIONAL AND OTHER SUCH INFORMATION, BUT SUCH INFORMATION IS DESIGNED FOR EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THE CONTENT DOES NOT AND IS NOT INTENDED TO CONVEY MEDICAL ADVICE AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON THIS INFORMATION AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR, NOR DOES IT REPLACE, PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. THE SITE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACTIONS OR INACTION ON A USER’S PART BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT IS PRESENTED ON THE SITE. Please note that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
