Tennis Elbow

💡Tennis elbow /Lateral elbow pain, rowing elbow or Lateral epicondyalgia is a tendonitis or tendinopathy , caused by overuse.

😩Pain is caused at bony point outside the elbow, this is called common extensor origin.

👉🏼This is the origin point for forearm muscles that help move the wrist and hand in upwards and outwards movement.

👩‍💼Age- middle age, 30 -50 years of age, mostly 4% of population equally seen in male and females.

👉🏼Causes-Overuse pains on dominant elbow, forearm and hand/wrist

• Repetitive use of vibrating tools, manual jobs- carpentry, machine work etc

• Repetitive lifting, reaching - daily jobs

• Sports- tennis, badminton , rowing, kayaking etc.

• Repetitive typing and mouse use - desk work

• Playing piano , cello etc

😞Symptoms -

1. Pain on outside of the forearm, elbow on bony point

2. Weakness in grip strength

3. Pain in lifting , reaching, moving with hand and forearm

4. Swelling and inflammation in acute phases

🧐Investigations - Not required unless tears in the tendon attachment is suspected

Ultrasound can confirm tendonitis - inflammation changes.

👉🏼Treatment-

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• Ibuprofen gel ( if allowed )every 3-4 hours

• Loading exercises to improve the pain and function

• Injections are not recommended due to poor outcomes and risk of tears

• if no improvement in 6 -12 months then further opinion is recommended from orthopedics

📲Please contact us if you need specific targeted exercises, advice and treatments we can help you with that

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/tennis-elbow/

https://www1.racgp.org.au/ajgp/2020/november/lateral-epicondylitis

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