Lateral Epicondylitis

Definition:

Tennis elbow usually begins as episodes of inflammation at the outside of the elbow joint. This inflammation is often caused by overuse or prolonged gripping activities such as hammering, driving screws, weight lifting, playing certain musical instruments, canoeing, digging in the garden, driving and racquet sports.

Symptoms:

There is localised pain over the lateral epicondyle which is on the outside of your elbow joint and the pain can be provoked by extending your wrist and gripping with a straight elbow.  A weak grip, increased pain when shaking hands or squeezing an object and pain when lifting something, using tools or opening jars are also common symptoms.

Risk factors:

Age, it is most common in adults between the ages of 30 to 50. Your occupation as people who have jobs that involve repetitive motions of the wrist and arm are more likely to develop tennis elbow. Another risk factor is playing racquet sports especially if you have poor technique.

Prevention:
Tennis elbow can be prevented by making sure you are using the proper technique for each sport or task, performing exercises that maintain the strength and flexibility of your forearm and resting your elbow if it is painful to bend or straighten your arm.

Treatment:

In the early phase it can be treated at home with rest by avoiding activities that aggravate the elbow, pain relievers such as ibuprofen and ice for 15 minutes three to four times daily. Physiotherapy can help to reduce the inflammation and level of pain the patient is feeling and provide a treatment plan that will bring you back to your activities. It is important to see a physiotherapist if your symptoms are not easing up at home with rest to make sure it is not anything more serious and to get it treated properly.