What Is Tennis Elbow
The tissue joining muscle to the bone is called a tendon. The outside of your elbow has such tendons. Performing actions like employing a paintbrush, wrench, hammer or screwdriver over and over can lead to minute tears in the muscle tissue. It is also possible to damage the tendon by over extending or over exerting it. This causes soreness in the elbow and is called tennis elbow. The injury is common among tennis athletes because of the arm movement concerned in a backhand stroke. The scientific term for the injury is lateral epicondylitis.
Tennis elbow is soreness, tenderness and pain all along the elbow muscles. The tenderness extends to the hand down the arm. The irritation is normally more severe when grasping things, bending the wrist in the direction of the bicep or turning the palm of the hand upward. Taking hold of things and lifting becomes excruciating. You may suffer troubles shaking someone's hand, twisting a door handle or holding onto things.
Tennis elbow is most often diagnosed by an examination of the elbow. Tenderness of the tendon when prodded is main signal. X-rays cannot diagnose tennis elbow, but they may be useful in eliminating other possible sources of inflammation.
Initial treatment of tennis elbow consists of the putting ice on the injury. Ice should never be directly applied to the skin. Ice should be held on the injury for 20 minutes at a time. You can apply ice for 24 hours following the injury. Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen are good for pain management and controlling inflammation.
Treatments range from cortisone gels or injections to arm wraps and physical therapy. Severe cases may require surgery to reattach the tendon. The good news is that 90% of surgery patient's recovery full use of their arm.
This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Speak to a doctor regarding your specific condition. For serious injuries, please seek emergency medical care.
Tennis elbow is soreness, tenderness and pain all along the elbow muscles. The tenderness extends to the hand down the arm. The irritation is normally more severe when grasping things, bending the wrist in the direction of the bicep or turning the palm of the hand upward. Taking hold of things and lifting becomes excruciating. You may suffer troubles shaking someone's hand, twisting a door handle or holding onto things.
Tennis elbow is most often diagnosed by an examination of the elbow. Tenderness of the tendon when prodded is main signal. X-rays cannot diagnose tennis elbow, but they may be useful in eliminating other possible sources of inflammation.
Initial treatment of tennis elbow consists of the putting ice on the injury. Ice should never be directly applied to the skin. Ice should be held on the injury for 20 minutes at a time. You can apply ice for 24 hours following the injury. Aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen are good for pain management and controlling inflammation.
Treatments range from cortisone gels or injections to arm wraps and physical therapy. Severe cases may require surgery to reattach the tendon. The good news is that 90% of surgery patient's recovery full use of their arm.
This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Speak to a doctor regarding your specific condition. For serious injuries, please seek emergency medical care.
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