Overcoming Tennis Elbow

Overview

Tennis elbow, popularly called lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition of the elbow that occurs due to overloading of the tendon. It usually occurs due to repetitive movement of the wrist and arm.

Causes 

The main cause for the tennis elbow is due to overuse or muscle strain injury. Due to the stress of the tissues and the repeated motions, a series of tiny tears in the tendons attach the forearm muscles to the bony prominence at the outside of the elbow.
Here are a few of the common causes of the tennis elbow. 

• Weak shoulder and wrist muscle
• Using a tennis racket that is too tightly strung or too short
• Improper backhand stroke
• Other racquet sports, which include squash or racquetball
• Operating a chain saw
• Frequent use of other hand tools such as hammer, screwdriver while typing or repetitive mouse use, etc., regularly
• Painting with a brush or a roller
• Using repeated hand motions while doing painting, carpenters, meat cutting, musicians, & and dentists.

Risk factors 

The risk factors associated with tennis elbow are listed below:

• Age- the incidence is more common in adults aged between 30 and 50. However, it can affect all age groups.
• Occupation- The incidence is more common in people with jobs involving repetitive arms and wrist movements. For example, painters, carpenters, butchers, etc. 
• Certain sports- people who are most involved in particular sports, which include racquet sports. 
• Activities that involve repeatedly bending the elbow, such as playing a violin. 

Signs and Symptoms

In most of the cases, the symptoms often develop gradually. The most common signs and symptoms of tennis are listed below:

• Pain or burning sensation in the outer part of the elbow
• Increase in severity of the pain in the night
• Weak grip strength
• Restrictions on hand movement
• Stiffness

Diagnosis

In most cases, the diagnosis of tennis elbow can be done by physical examination. Various other tests can be performed to diagnose the tennis elbow. They include:

• History of the patient- The doctor will initially record the patient's history whenever the patient approaches the doctor. The doctor will ask the patient a couple of questions to assess the patient's condition and severity. The doctor will also record the usual activities of the patient.
• Physical examination- Once the doctor records the patient's history, the doctor will perform the patient's physical examination. During the physical examination, the patient will complain of tenderness while palpating (pressing) the elbow joint. The doctor will advise the patient to undergo a couple of tests to confirm the condition.
• Investigational scans are not usually required. They are done to rule out other differential diagnosis if symptoms are clouding the diagnosis. These include X-rays of the elbow joint, CT scans, MRI scans, and EMG (electromyography) to check for compressed nerves by measuring muscles and nerve electrical activity. 

Treatment 

In most of the cases, tennis elbow does not require any treatment. They often heal on their own. However, there are various ways by which tennis elbow can be treated. They include:

• Rest 
• Medications- they include painkillers such as anti-inflammatory medications, etc.
• Steroid injections in the elbow can be beneficial in the short term, and clubbing with other treatments can even be a long-term solution.
• Braces- They support the elbow joint and remove tension from the tendons and muscles.
• Physiotherapy
• Platelet-rich plasma injections have increasingly proven to be beneficial.
• Extracorporeal shockwave therapy- During this therapy, sound waves are passed on to the scar tissue to break up the scar tissue and improve blood supply to the tissue.
• Surgery- Surgery is rarely recommended when the above-mentioned treatment plan fails to treat the underlying symptoms of the patient

Complications associated with tennis elbow

The complications that are associated with tennis elbow are listed below:

• Difficulty in grasping objects
• Long-term pain in the elbow joint
• Restrictions in the hand movements
• Difficulty in doing physical movements

Prevention

There are various methods by which tennis elbow can be prevented. Although it cannot be prevented completely, there are ways by which we can reduce the risk. They include:

• Exercise regularly to strengthen the forearm and make it flexible
• Warm up properly and doing stretching exercises before playing games
• Icing the elbow following intense physical activity
• Resting the elbow if it is painful to bend and strengthen the arm
• Wear a tennis elbow splint while using the arm to avoid further damage to the tendons. 
• Use lightweight tools or racquets to avoid putting extra strain on the tendon

FAQ

Q: What are the lifestyle and home remedies for treating tennis elbow?
A: There are several lifestyle and home remedies techniques in treating tennis elbow. They include:

• Rest- Take rest to avoid activities that aggravate the elbow pain 
• Ice pack
• Pain relievers
• Bracing and compression

Q: Which doctor treats tennis elbow?
A: An orthopaedician doctor can treat the tennis elbow.

Q: How to heal a tennis elbow fast?
A: The fastest way to treat tennis elbow is by giving proper rest whenever there is an injury to the elbow joint. 

Q: What are the best exercises for tennis elbow?
A: The best exercises for tennis elbow are listed below:

• Fist clenching 
• Supination with a lightweight dumbbell
• Wrist flexion and extension stretching exercises
• Towel wrist exercise

References

1.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tennis-elbow/symptoms-causes/syc-20351987#:~:text=Tennis%20elbow%20(lateral%20epicondylitis)%20is,of%20the%20wrist%20and%20arm.
2.https://www.healthline.com/health/tennis-elbow#causes
3.https://www.healthline.com/health/tennis-elbow#symptoms
4.https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tennis-elbow/treatment/
5.https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/7049-tennis-elbow-lateral-epicondylitis
6.https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/tennis-elbow/prevention/