Tennis elbow – lateral epicondylitis – is not limited to tennis players. This tendinitis is common in people 35 years or older who have a high activity level that includes repetitive wrist and elbow motion, combined with gripping or finger motions.
Though tennis elbow may occur from a single event, such as a fall or lifting a heavy object, in most cases it is a result of overuse.
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In advanced stages, this process is described as degenerative changes of the tendon tissue, which may lead to tendon rupture and or calcification of the tendon. When left untreated, this condition may require surgery. Many people ignore their symptoms or believe they need to work through them and continue at a high level of activity, only to worsen their condition.
It is best to address this elbow pain early on.
The most common symptom of this condition is pain at the lateral elbow that may radiate up or down the arm, depending on the severity. People often report inability to lift or grip objects because of pain, increased aching in the evening and stiffness of the elbow in the morning.
The goals of treatment are to relieve pain, promote tissue healing, and maintain or restore mobility and strength. A therapist can provide a course of treatment that may include physical agents such as ultrasound, heat, cold or iontophoresis (application of medication through skin patches and electrical stimulation). A splint will rest the involved muscles and tendons, and stretches and strengthening exercises will be prescribed (once there is little or no pain).
As with all injuries, prevention can be the best treatment. Here are things you can do to prevent or minimize your risk of tennis elbow.
At work:
Vary activities to reduce repeated motions.
Switch hands as much as you can throughout the day.
Don’t grip objects too tightly; use tools with handles appropriate to your hand size.
Pick up objects with a side or bottom grip, rather than a top grip.
Keep your elbows close to your body when using your arms.
Use an adjustable keyboard tray, with your elbows resting on armrests at a 90-degree bend.
When playing tennis:
Attempt to hit the ball on the “sweet spot” (center of the racket) to decrease vibration and resistance on impact.
With the backhand, maintain a neutral (or slightly back) wrist position and avoid hitting the ball with the arm out in front of the body. Make contact with the ball when it is beside the body.
Make sure your grip size is of proper diameter, use grip tape if needed and consciously lighten your grip. A tight grip is frequently cited as a cause of tennis elbow.
Take advantage of the power in your lower body, trunk and shoulders to hit the ball.
Use a lightweight, larger-framed racket, with string tension set at mild to medium.
For further information, contact your physician or physical/occupational therapist.
Kathi Thomson is an occupational therapist at Howard Head Sports Medicine in Breckenridge. For more information, go to www.vvmc.com.
