Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis, affects not only tennis players but any individual who uses repetitive one-sided movements. It can affect golfers, any other racquet sport participant, carpenters, electricians, keyboard operators, and a tailor or dressmaker. This is a very common malady, studies have shown that between 25 - 45% of tennis players have suffered from Tennis Elbow. In respect to racquet sport participants, it is most often caused by faulty stroke mechanics, specifically the backhand. Hitting a backhand and using wrist motion instead of hitting with a firm wrist will help to cause Tennis Elbow.

Proper body mechanics will help to prevent the problem. This begins with proper footwork, reaching the ball late will increase the forces translated to the elbow. Forces that arise when the ball hits the racquet should be distributed throughout the players entire body. It is therefore essential that the whole shoulder and trunk, including the larger muscles, are used so that forces and vibration can be dissipated as widely as possible. These forces that are torsional and vibrational in composition affect players with faulty strokes.

The muscles of the extensor wad of the lateral (outside) forearm are affected at their attachment to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow. The symptoms are as follows:

Pain on the outer aspect of the elbow, which can radiate up and down the arm.
Weakness in the wrist which can be elicited by carrying weighted objects (plates, or coffee cups), wringing a wet washcloth, or shaking hands.
Tender point caused by pressure over the lateral epicondyle of the elbow.
Pain over the lateral epicondyle when the hand is extended backwards at the wrist against resistance.

Proper treatment begins with early recognition of the injury. Tennis Elbow if left untreated can last up to 6 months. If caught early, the prognosis of return to competitive play quickly is high. As with all injuries, early treatment begins with ice, specifically ice massage over the lateral elbow. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory may be taken to help reduce the swelling that accompanies this injury; these can either be over the counter products (ibuprofen or naproxen) or prescribed by a physician. Active rest is also very critical to the recovery process.

Active rest involves avoiding the stroke or movement that exacerbates the symptoms, and continuation of a normal cardiovascular conditioning program. Also, specific exercises designed to strengthen the wrist and elbow should be instituted within the tolerance for pain. The exercises are as follows:

1) Wrist flexibility, specifically flexion and extension stretching.

2) Forearm strengthening exercises

Pronation/Supination: with elbow straight, forearm supported on table, and thumb facing up hold a broom stick or golf club in hand. Slowly lower stick slowly by allowing forearm to rotate to the right and hold for 2 seconds, then slowly raise the stick back to start and slowly lower to left and hold for 2 seconds. Repeat 30 - 50 times every other day.
Radial/Ulnar Deviation: With elbow straight, forearm supported on table, and thumb facing up hold a broom stick or golf club in hand. Slowly lower stick forward as far as possible, and hold for 2 seconds. Return to starting position and slowly lower stick back over shoulder as far as possible, holding for 2 seconds. Repeat 30 - 50 times every other day.
Wrist curls: With forearm supported, hand off of table edge, and palm facing up, slowly lower hand as far as possible. Slowly lift hand as far as possible. Repeat 30 -- 50 times every other day, increasing weight as tolerated.
Reverse Wrist Curls: Same position as above with palm facing down. Repeat steps for wrist curls as described above. Repeat 30 - 50 times every other day, increasing weight as tolerated.
Biceps Curls
Triceps Extensions
Wrist roller exercises

The above exercises should be continued every other day for about 2 - 3 weeks. If the symptoms do not improve, a visit to your orthopaedic physician should be considered. If Tennis Elbow is not treated properly, muscle atrophy and death can occur. The physician may prescribe stronger anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, a tennis elbow strap, and referral to an organized therapy program. The good news is that most cases of Tennis Elbow heal spontaneously, and the prognosis is generally very good for return to competitive athletic levels.

Tennis Elbow Rehab in PDF Format

Information on this site is not a substitute for physician directed care.

Please consult your personal physician for more detailed information

concerning specific injuries or illnesses.

Last Update for AthleticAdvisor.com: 10/24/2009 12:09:35 AM