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Tennis elbow is a painful condition where the outer part of the elbow becomes sore and tender due to repetitive motions that put a strain on the elbow. The medical terminologies for this condition are lateral epicondylitis, the inflammation to the outside elbow bone, and lateral epicondylosis, which is lateral elbow pain in simple terms.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
Symptoms may vary due to the intensity of the pain and tenderness caused in the elbow and in the back of the forearm, which worsens with repeated use of the elbow especially for twisting movements. These are some of the common symptoms of tennis elbow:
* pain while lifting or bending the arm
* pain caused while twisting the forearm
* pain when gripping small objects like pen especially while holding the pen and writing.
* inability or difficulty in extending the forearm completely
* persistent pain on the outside of the upper forearm just below the bend of the elbow and on certain occasions, pain is felt down the arm towards the wrist.
Tennis elbow myths demystified
Tennis elbow is one of the most common and widely reported cases of all the repetitive stress injuries. It is also the most difficult and painful injury to recover from. This condition has been shrouded in doubts regarding its treatment and diagnosis for a long time. Most of the people suffering from its symptoms make the familiar mistake of overlooking the severity of the situation, if left untreated. These common myths compound the confusion in nailing down the symptoms of tennis elbow and treating it on time.
‘Tennis elbow’ – a technical misnomer
This condition has been referred by this name since the year 1883, when Major used it in his paper ‘Lawn-tennis elbow’. The name ‘tennis elbow’ is technically a misnomer since only 5% of the people afflicted with this injury are tennis players. Even a study conducted on 500 tennis players who complained of pain in the outer surface of the elbow concluded that only 37% of them had tennis elbow. It is important to understand that it can happen to anyone during the course of normal routine activities.
Completely Avoid Activities that Caused the Pain
There is no reason why you have to stop doing your favorite hobbies or activities that caused the elbow pain to recover from the injury. You can continue with your normal routine just by keeping in mind not to exert too much pressure on the arm, giving it periodical rests, and undergoing recommended treatment program.
Elbow Braces – the most effective cure
Elbow braces are more effective as a preventive measure than as a cure for tennis elbow. Sportsmen are generally advised against wearing an elbow brace while playing. Braces are worn as a support to avoid future injuries. It most definitely will not cure you of the pain but in all probability, it may prove counter productive by immobilizing and reducing circulation to the arm thereby increasing the pain. It is more of a temporary reprieve than a long-term solution.
Seeking Professional Help - Only Way Out
If you recognize the signs of this condition earlier on and listen to your body, tennis elbow can be prevented and treated with adequate rest and strengthening exercises. Alternating hot and cold therapy has the effect of ‘washing out’ the accumulation of pain chemicals and brings in the essential repair substances.
Remember that the pain caused by tennis elbow takes as long as 12 weeks to subside, some may even experience discomfort for several years but you can be sure that tennis elbow can be cured with proper timely care.
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