💡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 –
- Pain on outside of the forearm, elbow on bony point
- Weakness in grip strength
- Pain in lifting , reaching, moving with hand and forearm
- Swelling and inflammation in acute phases
🧐Investigations – Not required unless tears in the tendon attachment is suspected
Ultrasound can confirm tendonitis – inflammation changes.
👉🏼Treatment-
- 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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