email
print
Tennis Elbow
From CopperWiki
Tennis Elbow is a gradual recurring pain experienced in the upper forearm. It radiates towards the wrist. Identified over a century ago, Tennis Elbow has a striking similarity to two more elbow-related strain conditions – the Golfer’s Elbow and the Bursitis.
These days, nearly half of all tennis players suffer from this disorder at some point. Interestingly though, tennis players actually account for less than 5% of all reported cases making the term for this condition something of a misnomer.
Contents |
[edit] Why should I be aware of this?
- It is a painful condition
- It is not restricted to Tennis players. Most of us might be more susceptible to the disease than we assume.
- It needs proper care as chances of relapse are high.
- A relapse is far more difficult and complicated to treat than the first straw. After battling a Tennis Elbow injury, you become susceptible to it even more.
[edit] All about Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is the most common injury in patients seeking medical attention for elbow pain. The exact cause of tennis elbow is not known, but it is thought to be due to small tears of the tendons that attach forearm muscles to the arm bone at the elbow joint. The muscle group involved, the wrist extensors, function to cock the wrist back.
[edit] Symptoms
Patients with tennis elbow syndrome experience pain on the outside of the elbow that is worsened by grasping objects and cocking back the wrist. The most common symptoms of tennis elbow are:
- Pain over the outside of the elbow
- Pain when lifting objects
- Pain radiating down the forearm
The pain associated with tennis elbow usually has a gradual onset, but it may also come on suddenly.
People with tennis elbow frequently complain of pinpoint pain which has a traveling sensation. The pain is made worse by activities that stress the wrist and the elbow.
Most of the time, there is not a specific traumatic injury before symptoms start. As symptoms worsen, people complain of difficulty holding up a cup of coffee, turning keys in locks, shaking hands, doing needlework, or playing musical instruments.
[edit] Who does it affect?
- It has been observed that most patients suffering from the Tennis elbow are in the 35 to 65 years age group.
- It affects about an equal number of men and women.
- In 75% of the cases, Tennis Elbow afflicts the dominant arm.
- Tennis elbow occurs in the dominant arm in about 75% of patients.
- Tennis elbow can affect as many as half of athletes in racquet sports. *However, most patients with tennis elbow are not active in racquet sports.
Many individuals with tennis elbow are involved in work or recreational activities that require repetitive and vigorous use of the forearm muscle. It affects
- Manual Laborers --People who work with their hands are at greater risk of developing tennis elbow. Jobs that may lead to tennis elbow include plumbers, painters, gardeners, and carpenters.
- Sports Participants --Sports participants, especially racquet sport players, are prone to developing tennis elbow. About a third of regular tennis players experience tennis elbow at some point in their careers. In addition to racquet sports, tennis elbow is seen in golfers, fencers, and other sports participants.
- Repetitive tasks -- Repetitive tasks such as painting, hammering, or working on the computer.
[edit] What can I do?
Consult a doctor if you experience
- Inability to carry objects or use your arm
- Elbow pain that occurs at night or while resting
- Elbow pain that persists beyond a few days
- Inability to straighten or flex your arm
- Swelling or significant bruising around the joint or arm
- Any other unusual symptoms
Tennis elbow may be prevented by keeping your wrist in neutral position for activities.
[edit] Some preventive measures
Despite the pain, make it a point to stay active.
- If your pain is acute, ice or anti-inflammatory medication may help.
- Rest the sore arm for a few days to a week, to give the tissues a chance to heal.
- Find exercises, which do not require repetitive movements of the arm and hand.
- Examine which activities make your arm, wrist, and hand feel better or worse.
- Try to limit those activities, which make you feel worse.
- Switch to power driven tools, which allow you to limit repetitive arm turning motions.
- Vary your activities frequently.
- Take “mini breaks” to rest arm, wrist, and hand, and to correct your posture.
- Temporarily avoid those activities, which are too painful to do at all.
[edit] Home remedies for Tennis Elbow
- Ice compress -- Apply ice press to the inflamed area to get relief from pain.
- Massage therapy -- Massage from experts under the guidance of your doctor might also help.
- Exercises -- Do regular stretching exercises to prevent any kind of friction to your forearms. The stretching helps in strengthening the forearms.
- Kitchen remedy --Warm and bakedpotato applied to the elbow can help relieve the pain of tennis elbow.
- Acupuncture -- Acupuncture can be used for treating tennis elbow problem.
