Treatment For Tennis Elbow

Exercises for tennis elbow, treatment elbow pain, treatment bursitis

Tennis elbow or Lateral Epicondylitis is a trauma injury of the elbow with symptom of elbow pain which occurs due to continuous usage of muscles of forearm and arm which leads to little tear in the tendons. The risk of developing tennis elbow is increased with the use of forearm muscles in racket sports. Lack of strength, more time spent on playing and poor technique is other reason for causing tennis elbow. Some feel that the racket string tension is responsible for this due to heavy impact on forearm muscles. Little proof is there about the link between tennis elbow symptoms and racket grip circumference. Tendon inflammation and pain may be caused by straight injury or collision and some times the muscles tear partially.

The first symptom seen is pain of outside of elbow generally while playing or after playing for a long time using the forearm. Some get pain while trying to lift or catch hold of some objects and sometimes it radiates on the arm.

The first treatment for this tennis elbow is taking rest since the main reason is overuse of the muscles. So all the activities relate to the elbow should be discontinued. The ice, rest, compression as well as elevation RICE method is the best treatment and helps to decrease pain and inflammation. The swelling and inflammation and pain can be treated by keeping ice for about 10 to15 minutes. The injured muscles can be protected by packaging the forearm close to the elbow when they are curing.

A physiotherapist may give ultrasound and other modalities for healing the damage caused by injury. Some strengthening and flexibility exercises may help to return to normal activity soon. Some may need brace or wrist splint.

The inflammation and pain can be reduced using anti inflammatory medicines. If the case becomes intolerable cortisone injection helps to relieve the discomfort. Recurrence of the condition is common hence exercises should be continued and the activities should be sustained for some more time.

If the non surgical procedure does not give relief then surgery will be needed. A specialist will suggest various surgical options depending upon the condition of the elbow. If left untreated lateral epicondylitis becomes a nagging condition and takes many months to heal. So diagnosis has to be made promptly and treatment started immediately. Once elbow pain is noticed it is better to take the patient to the doctor and try conservative treatments like physiotherapy and exercises and if does not work then go for drugs to decrease pain and inflammation. Taking rest is also one of the best conservative treatments. Once the pain is relieved normal activities can be continued. If nothing works then go for cortisone injection or surgery.