Tennis elbow: symptoms, causes and treatment

Definition of tennis elbow

What is tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)?

Musculoskeletal or movement system disorders in humans, not only include the muscular system and the skeletal system, but also discuss problems with joints, ligaments, and tendons like this one.

Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a condition that causes pain in the elbow due to damage to the muscles and tendons in the elbow area.

Usually, this condition occurs when the movement made by the tendons in the elbow has exceeded its capacity. This is often due to repetitive movements of the arms and wrists.

Even though it is called tennis elbow, it doesn't mean that only tennis players can experience it. If you have a job that requires you to do the same movements over and over, your risk of getting tennis elbow increases.

The pain or tenderness that results from tennis elbow usually appears in the tendons that connect the muscles of the forearm to the bony protrusions that are located on the outside of the elbow.

This pain can also spread and be felt to the forearm and wrist. However, you can overcome this by resting or taking pain relievers that can be purchased over the counter at pharmacies.

How common is this condition?

Tennis elbow is a condition that usually occurs to you if you have a job that requires your hands to perform repetitive movements.

However, this condition can also occur to those of you who like to do sports such as tennis, golf and similar sports.

Tennis elbow is a disease that commonly occurs in people aged 30 to 50 years. Please consult your doctor for more information.

Tennis elbow signs & symptoms

The symptoms of tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis often get worse with time. Usually, you will feel only mild pain, but it will get worse in a matter of weeks or months.

The pain caused by tennis elbow usually starts on the outside of the elbow and radiates to the forearm and wrist.

Apart from that, other common symptoms of this condition are:

• Burning pain on the outside of the elbow.
• Weakened grip strength.
• Elbows often hurt at night.

The pain from tennis elbow also usually makes the patient unable to do some simple things such as:

• Shaking hands or grasping an object.
• When turning the doorknob.
• When holding a coffee cup.

As explained, this symptom will usually get worse, especially if you continue to do activities or move actively using your forearms, such as holding a racket, shaking hands, and various other activities.

Although both of your hands can experience this, it's usually the dominant hand you use the most that is more susceptible to getting hit by the tennis elbow.

When to see a doctor?

If you find the cause of the pain in your elbow, it's best to avoid repetitive activities until your hands are better. You should see a doctor if the pain and stiffness in your elbow doesn't get worse after resting.

You can also use ice to compress it, or take painkillers without a prescription.

Causes of tennis elbow

Tennis elbow is a muscle injury that occurs due to overuse. This condition occurs due to repeated contractions between the forearm muscles that are used to straighten and lift the hand and wrist.

This repetition has the potential to tear the tendon that connects your forearm muscle to the bone outside your elbow.

You can experience this one condition because of various activities that involve repetitive movements of the wrist and forearm muscles. Some of these activities include:

• Play racket sports, such as tennis, squash and badminton.
• Use scissors when gardening.
• Use a brush or roller while painting the walls.
• The habit of doing heavy manual work.
• Activities that require you to perform repetitive movements using your hand or wrist, such as using scissors or typing.

Risk factors for tennis elbow

The following factors are things that make you prone to tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis:

1. Age

Basically, just like various other joint, muscle and bone diseases, tennis elbow can also be experienced by all ages. However, this condition is often experienced by adults in the 30-50 years age range.

2. Work

If you have a job that involves repetitive movements, especially the wrists and arms, your risk of developing tennis elbow is even greater. This is usually experienced by painters, carpenters, butchers and cooks.

3. Certain sports

Doing certain sports, such as badminton or tennis, can increase your risk of developing tennis elbow, especially if you use the wrong technique while playing.

Having no risk factors does not mean you are free from tennis elbow. You should consult a specialist doctor, namely an orthopedic doctor for more information.

Tennis elbow diagnosis & treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

Your doctor diagnoses your elbow with a medical record and a clinical examination of your shoulder, arm, and wrist. In addition, other tests or X-rays will be done to rule out other diseases with similar symptoms such as arthritis, cervical spine disease, nerve problems and pinched nerves.

Your doctor will also do magnetic resonance image (MRI) to take pictures of the ligaments.

What are the treatment options for tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)?

The following are treatment options for tennis elbow, including:

1. Painkillers

Similar to bursitis, tendinitis, and various other joint and tendon diseases, tennis elbow can also be treated with pain relievers.

You can take ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin to relieve pain. Even though you can get these drugs at the pharmacy without a doctor's prescription, you are advised to always consult your doctor before taking medication.

2. Injection drugs

In addition to pain relievers that are consumed by mouth, doctors may give injection drugs to treat this condition. According to John Hopkins Medicine, injectable steroids can help reduce pain and reverse swelling.

3. The TENEX procedure

In this procedure, the doctor will insert a special needle into the patient's skin towards the affected or affected tendon. Then, the ultrasonic energy will rapidly vibrate the damaged tissue.

The tissue will melt, making it easier to suck out. In addition, this procedure can help increase blood flow and speed up the recovery process for tennis elbow patients.

4. Physical therapy

If your symptoms are related to tennis, your doctor will likely examine the techniques and movements you perform to determine the best treatment.

A therapist will teach you gradual exercises to stretch and strengthen your arm muscles. Eccentric exercises by lowering the wrist, just after lifting it, can help treat this condition.

The use of an arm strap or brace can reduce stress on the injured tissue.

5. Operation

If your symptoms haven't improved after six to 12 months, you may have elbow surgery to remove the damaged tissue. This type of procedure can be done through a large or small incision. After surgery, it is recommended that you do physical exercise as part of the recovery process.

Home remedies for tennis elbow

Lifestyle changes and home remedies that can help you deal with tennis elbow include:

1. Get plenty of rest time

An important thing you can do at home to help with the recovery process from tennis elbow is to rest. Yes, you need to rest for a while until conditions improve. Avoid any activity that can trigger pain in the elbow.

2. Compress with ice

You can also compress the affected area with cold water or ice cubes for about 15 minutes. Do it 3-4 times a day for maximum results.

3. Make simple movements

There are some simple movements you can do to relieve the symptoms of tennis elbow, such as:

• Grasping objects

This grasping exercise will help strengthen the forearm muscles and grip of the hand.

Here's how:

1. Prepare a table and a small rolled towel.
2. Place your arms on the table, as in the illustration.
3. Hold the rolled towel and hold it gently for 10 seconds. Then let go.
4. Repeat 10 times until your elbow pain is comfortable.

• Rotate the wrist

This exercise can help relax the supinator muscles, which are prone to injury from tennis elbow. Here's how:

1. Sit on a chair comfortably, then prepare a dumbbell that weighs 1 kilogram (kg).
2. Place your elbows on your knees, then hold the dumbbells in a vertical (upright) position.
3. Turn your wrist slowly, from top to bottom. Make sure your arms are straight, only your wrists are turning.
4. Do this 10 times.

• Grasping up and down

This one movement serves to relax the extensor muscles in the wrist. Here's how easy it is:

1. Sit in a chair comfortably, then place your elbows on your knees.
2. Hold on dumbbell with your palms facing down.
3. Move your wrist up and down, like when you are riding a motorcycle. Keep your arms straight, only your wrists are moving.
4. Do it 10 times and feel the change.

• One-handed lifting

To treat pain around the wrist, do the following movements:

1. Sit in a chair comfortably, then place your elbows on your knees.
2. Hold a dumbbell with your palms facing upwards.
3. Bend your wrist upwards 10 times. Keep your arms straight, only your wrists are moving.
4. Do the same thing downwards 10 times.

• Squeeze the towel

This movement can help strengthen and flex the muscles of the forearm up to the elbow.

Here's how:

1. Sit on a chair comfortably. Keep your shoulders relaxed.
2. Hold the towel with both hands, then turn the towel in opposite directions as if you were wringing the shirt.
3. Repeat 10 times, then change the opposite direction.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.

Tennis elbow prevention

There are several things you can do to prevent tennis elbow conditions or lateral epicondylitis, such as:

• Stop activities that can cause pain in the elbow.
• Avoid overuse of your wrists and elbows.
• Learn good techniques for doing sports that require you to perform repetitive movements, such as tennis, squash, and badminton.
• Always warm up and cool down before and after exercise to avoid sprains or muscle injuries.