Tennis elbow results from strained and inflamed muscle tendons in the elbow and
forearm. It is usually caused by repetitive arm, elbow and wrist movements. In
particular, activities that require the wrist to be extended or the hand turned outward
(i.e., turning a screwdriver) can bring about tennis elbow.
People with tennis elbow feel pain on the outside (lateral) upper portion of the
forearm just below the bend in the elbow. This is the area where muscles and
tendons attach to a bony "bump" (epicondyle) on the elbow. Gripping, carrying or
lifting objects will trigger pain. Even grasping objects as light as a coffee mug or a
toothbrush can be painful. A person with tennis elbow may also experience weakness
of the forearm muscles.
Some cases of tennis elbow disappear after simply modifying the activities that
produce elbow pain and swelling. For example, when tennis elbow does occur in
tennis players, it is probably due to a faulty tennis stroke. Learning proper form will
help prevent a recurrence of pain. To avoid or recover from tennis elbow, it is also
essential to use proper technique when playing other sports including golf, baseball
and bowling or doing work such as carpentry, gardening, assembly-line work or other
activities involving repetitive arm movements.
The most effective treatments for tennis elbow include resting the arm until the pain
subsides, ultrasound therapy, electric stimulation therapy, cold laser therapy,
massaging the forearm muscles and tendons (using a technique called cross friction
massage) and applying ice to the inflamed area. Stretching and strengthening
exercises for the forearm are required to resolve most cases of tennis elbow.
In addition, a chiropractor may need to adjust joints in the elbow, wrist, shoulder or
neck to relieve pressure on the nerve supply to the elbow and forearm. Some doctors
may recommend the use of an elastic band to be worn around the forearm just
below the elbow. This band is believed by some doctors to reduce pain by countering
stresses on the elbow. Other doctors question the value of this device.
As a last resort oral steroids and even steroid injections are used to reduce the
inflamation of the tendons. If left untreated it may result in bone spurring and
permanent loss of motion of the elbow.
If you have this condition or questions, please call our West York office 767-4151 or
North York location 885-0832 to schedule an appointment. This is a condition that we have had a lot of success in treating.
