Tennis elbow (or lateral epicondylitis) is an overuse injury that results in inflammation and pain in the outermost tendon of the elbow. Although named due it’s common occurrence in tennis players, this injury can develop from any activity that involves repetitive gripping, lifting or rotation of the wrist. It can be things as simple and day-to-day as cleaning or high volumes of computer mouse use that cause this injury.
Understanding your load is key
Your Physio will start by getting a detailed understanding of your recent and typical weekly activities. This will allow us to recognise what may have exacerbated your pain and what things we need to decrease in volume. Knowing the contributing factors is essential for developing targeted and succeful treatment plans. Your treatment can also include;
Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques such as soft tissue massage and joint mobilizations can help reduce pain, improve tissue mobility and restore normal joint mechanics.
Therapeutic Exercise: Prescription of specific exercises to strengthen the muscles of the forearm, wrist, and shoulder, improve flexibility and address any muscle imbalance that may be present.
Bracing or Taping: Advice on braces or application of tape to support the affected area and offload stress on the injured tendon.
Biomechanical Correction: Education on proper ergonomics, posture and movement mechanics to prevent further strain on the elbow and assist long-term recovery.
Referral for further treatment: There are treatment options available for tendinopathies that are not improving with load management and the treatment methods above. Your Physio will discuss with you when it is appropriate to be referred on for these, if necessary.
Tennis elbow can be a challenging condition to manage. It can be a slow process with ups and downs in progress, all of which is completely normal. With appropriate management and diligence with your exercises, you can make a full recovery and restore the tendon to its full health and function. The biggest hurdle to treatment success that we see is patients’ lack of commitment to their exercise program. Without completion of the specific exercises, these injuries drag on. They are not the type of injury that can recover on their own, as there is a biomechanical change to the tendon structure.
If you're experiencing persistent elbow pain or have concerns about tennis elbow, don't hesitate to consult with one of our physiotherapists for assessment and treatment. We will work with you to restore your elbow function and help you get back to doing the activities you love, pain-free!
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