Fixing Tennis Elbow: Symptoms, Causes, and Exercises to Alleviate Pain

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition that affects the outer part of the elbow. It is a common injury that is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons, often from activities such as playing tennis, typing on a keyboard, or lifting weights. In this article, we will discuss the signs and symptoms of tennis elbow, its causes, and how to fix it.

Signs and Symptoms

The most common symptom of tennis elbow is pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow. This pain can be mild or severe and may worsen when you grip an object, twist your forearm, or lift something. You may also experience stiffness in your elbow and forearm, as well as weakness in your grip.

Causes

Tennis elbow is caused by repetitive motions and overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons. This can lead to small tears in the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle, the bony bump on the outside of the elbow. Over time, these tears can lead to inflammation and pain.

Tennis elbow can be caused by a variety of activities, including playing tennis or other racquet sports, typing on a keyboard for long periods of time, using hand tools such as screwdrivers and hammers, and lifting heavy objects. It can also be caused by poor technique or posture during these activities, as well as by age-related wear and tear on the tendons.

How To Fix Tennis Elbow

Manual Therapy

Manual therapy can be an effective treatment option for tennis elbow. Manual therapy is a type of physical therapy that involves hands-on techniques to manipulate and mobilize soft tissues and joints in the body. In the case of tennis elbow, manual therapy can help to reduce pain, improve range of motion, and promote healing.

Exercises

Once the initial pain and inflammation have subsided, it’s important to start doing exercises to strengthen the muscles in your forearm. This can help prevent future injuries and improve your overall grip strength.

By doing specific exercises that target the forearm muscles, you can help to strengthen these muscles and reduce the strain on the tendons. This can help to alleviate pain and prevent future injuries from occurring. Additionally, exercises can help to improve range of motion and flexibility in the elbow and wrist, which can also help to reduce pain and stiffness.

In addition to these exercises, it’s important to maintain good posture and technique during activities that involve the forearm muscles. This can help prevent future injuries and reduce the risk of re-injury.

Final Thoughts

Tennis elbow can be a painful and debilitating condition, but with the right treatment and exercises, it can be fixed. Rest and ice can help reduce pain and inflammation, while exercises can help strengthen the muscles in your forearm and improve your grip strength.

By taking steps to prevent future injuries, you can keep your elbow healthy and pain-free. Book an appointment now and work with one of our health care practitioners to fix your tennis elbow now!