Physiotherapy for Tennis Elbow

From sports activity to all the other forms of physical activities, how often we keep our muscles busy in our day-to-day life. Muscular pain and joint pain are no more unfamiliar conditions to us and people from all walks of life experience them at some point in time. When was the last time you did sports and had a sleepless night due to muscular pain? Or the recent dusting of your house made you experience sore muscles?

Well, you are not alone who experience such awful situations, almost all of us do. So, what do we do when we are into such a situation? There is nothing to panic about, Physiotherapy got your back! Physiotherapy is not only used in treating conditions related to your neck or head; it is also used in treating all the other types of body pain. When you experience any muscular or joint pain in your body you may want to visit physiotherapy clinics in Hamilton for the treatment.

What is Tennis Elbow?

One of the painful conditions of the body is the ‘tennis elbow’. What do you have to do with tennis elbow when you are not even a sporty person? While it is true as the name suggests, tennis elbow is caused by playing tennis or other racket sports but sometimes it is also caused by overusing or stressing your elbow joint. You may understand tennis elbow as a painful condition where your tendons weaken and join your forearm muscles to your bones. In simple words, it is a condition in which pain is caused around the outside of your elbow. When you visit a physiotherapy clinic in Hamilton your physiotherapist or healthcare professional may use the word ‘lateral epicondylitis’ when discussing the condition, you need not be confused, it is the clinical term for tennis elbow.

Also Read:  Top 5 Benefits of Sports Physiotherapy

Causes

When you return from your violin lesson or finish painting your masterpiece, you are likely to experience tennis elbow. There are various factors that contribute to the tennis elbow; primarily it is the repetitive swinging or tugging motion of your wrist or elbow. Other factors include playing racket sports, carpentry, typing, an occupation that involves excessive use of your forearm or elbow, age is another factor as the elderly people are more prone to experience tennis elbow and it can also be caused by the direct blow to your elbow that makes your tendons swell. When you are done doing any such activity which has led you to experience tennis elbow, now is the time to visit a physiotherapy clinic in Hamilton.

Symptoms

Tennis elbow is a condition where its symptoms are evident. The two most simple and common symptoms which are sufficient enough to make you aware of your tennis elbow are pain sensation on the outer part of your elbow and weak grip strength. You will observe the symptoms occurring gradually and they can become worse with time if not treated rightly at the right time. So, all you need is a ‘to do’ list in order to treat your tennis elbow.

Treatments

Other exercises include wrist extension and wrist flexion. The exercises may differ according to the seriousness of your tennis elbow and it is best to visit a physiotherapy clinic in Hamilton to consult a physiotherapist regarding the correct treatment. Medication is often recommended to relieve the pain and massaging the affected area helps you relieve the stiffness and improve the movement of your arm.Let’s have a look at the things you can do by yourself, firstly, you need to give proper rest to your injured elbow. The next thing you should do is hold a cold compress, basically an ice bag for a few minutes several times a day; this can help to reduce swelling, inflammation, and pain. Once your inflammation is reduced, you can begin with some simple exercises to strengthen your forearm, exercises such as fist clench which you can do with the help of a soft rolled towel, squeeze it in your hand and hold for 10 seconds, and release, repeat it 5-10 times.

Different treatments are available according to the level of seriousness of your tennis elbow; treatment could be surgical as well as non-surgical. It is best to see a doctor at the right time because tennis elbow is not as cool as playing tennis.

Warning

Exercises can be helpful, only when performed correctly and it is recommended to be under a professional’s supervision. It’s vital for you to get a full evaluation of the injury. It is also advised not to begin normal tense activities until the inflammation is reduced. In case pain strikes back while performing exercises, visit the physiotherapist immediately. The therapist will be able to tell you what you were doing wrong. Correcting that and changing the way you do daily activities can help you decrease symptoms and pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Are x-rays required for diagnosing tennis elbow?

A. X-ray is not necessary for every patient who undergoes a tennis elbow diagnosis. Unnecessary screening is a waste of money and time. 

Q. Who is at risk of developing tennis elbow?

A. Anybody at any age can be affected by tennis elbow, although it often affects adults between the ages of 30 and 50. People whose work puts their wrist and arm into repetitive motion are at risk of developing tennis elbow. Similarly, certain racket sports also increase the probability of developing tennis elbow, especially poor stroke techniques.

Q. My elbow already really hurts, will participate in therapy make it worse?

A. No, you should relax and leave it all to your physiotherapist. The first goal of your therapist will be to reduce pain and inflammation. At the physio center through different programs and treatments tennis elbow can be healed. Apart from that, you’ll be asked by the therapist to slightly vary the way you use your elbow for work, doing this will help you relieve pain and heal faster.

Q. Where Can I Go For The Latest Tennis Elbow Treatments?

A. If you or any of your loved ones are suffering from tennis elbow then it is best to seek a specialist who knows exactly what to do and how to do it. Experts at Innova Physio & Sports Rehab are trained and well versed with the treatment knowledge as well as experience for tennis elbow. Multiple techniques and methods will be utilized to deal with your pain. Visit us today or book an appointment!

Author - Denish Tamakuwala

Denish Tamakuwala is a Physiotherapist and Clinic Director at Innova Physio. He is a Registered Physiotherapist with a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Science. He obtained a Diploma degree (honours) in Fitness & Health Promotion from Humber College. He possesses extensive knowledge and practical experience in therapy and rehabilitation treatment. Apart from assisting his patients through physiotherapy, he loves to compose informational articles to educate the mass.