Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) - Medtick
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Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

What is it?

Small tear(s) in muscle in forearm and occurs to persons mainly in their middle age.

  • Symptoms can last up to six months to two years and usually clears up by itself.
The most important thing to do is to rest your injured arm and stop doing the activity that caused the problem.
  • Medication is only given if one is extreme pain or pain is affecting their sleep and hence affects their quality of life.

Diagnosis Tests

Consider:

Please see your Medical Doctor If symptoms not improving after a week or one is in a lot of pain

Cause

  • Doing activities involving your arms, one does not do often causing injury
  • Extreme overuse of muscles and tendons in forearms causing injury i.e.
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Swimming
    • Throwing
    • Gardening
    • Lifting
    • Manual work
    • Brick laying
    • Small movements in hands and wrist
    • Typing
    • Playing a musical instrument

Symptoms

  • Pain on the outside of your upper forearm, just below your elbow – the pain may also travel down your forearm towards your wrist ?
  • Pain when lifting or bending your arm?
  • Pain when writing or gripping small objects – for example, when holding a pen?
  • Pain when twisting your forearm i.e. when turning a door handle or opening a jar?
  • Pain and stiffness when fully extending your arm?
  • Joint stiffness and pain?

NHS Choices

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Rupture
    • Sudden and/or severe pain
    • A popping or snapping sound during injury

General tips

  1. Rest – stop the exercise or activities that caused the injury until you feel better
  2. Ice – put an ice pack (you could use a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a tea towel) on the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
  3. Compress – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it
  4. Elevate – if possible, keep the injured area raised on a pillow when sitting or lying down

To help prevent swelling during the first 2 to 3 days, try to avoid:

  • Heat, such as hot baths and heat packs
  • Alcohol
  • Massages

When you can move the injured area without pain stopping you, try to keep moving it so the tendon doesn’t become stiff.

Do

  • Warm up before exercising and stretch afterwards
  • Wear suitable shoes for exercise
  • Take regular breaks from repetitive exercises

Don’t

  • Over-exercise tired muscles
  • Start a new sport without some training or practice
  • Stick to the same repetitive exercises

NHS.UK

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

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