Tennis elbow is a type of tendon injury caused by repetitive overuse of muscles that causes swelling and inflammation of the associated tendons. Tennis elbow, also know as lateral epicondylitis, can result from sports and activities like squash, badminton, painting, and – more commonly from everyday activities such as using a screwdriver, lifting heavy pots, improper use of a keyboard or mouse, or raking. Here are some tips from our sports and spine doctor at Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics for preventing and treating tennis elbow:
Preventing Tennis Elbow
Preventing tennis elbow is possible through a mix of physical precautions and using proper equipment. Since lateral epicondylitis affects your muscles and tendons, increasing the strength and flexibility of your muscles helps prevent the condition from forming. Some prevention suggestions and techniques may include:
Forearm Exercises
Performing simple wrist flexion and extension exercises targets the muscles in your forearm, which attach to your elbow. Keeping these muscles strong may increase your grip strength and help you carry, hold, and lift items for a longer period before you become strained. Examples of exercises that can be helpful:
- Bottle hold: Hold a bottle in the affected arm and slowly lower your arm with the palm facing away from you. Keep the wrist straight, then drop the bottle into your other hand. Return the bottle to the affected hand and repeat several times.
- Wrist curls: Lie your forearm flat on the table with the palm up. Use a light free weight or resistance band and pull your wrists back up toward your body, being careful not to move the rest of your arm in the process.
- Towel twist: With a towel in your hands, extend your arms in front of you and twist as if wringing the water out of a towel. Repeat several times, then switch to twisting in the opposite direction.
- Ball squeeze: Hold a stress ball or small rubber ball in one hand and squeeze tightly to help strengthen your grip.
Take Regular Breaks
Feelings of fatigue or soreness in a limb are usually signals from your body telling you it needs a break. Stretch and take plenty of breaks before playing sports, exercising, or performing tasks with repetitive movements. If you feel pain, try resting and using ice packs to reduce inflammation. Use proper workstation ergonomics. Keep your wrist in a neutral position when sitting at your desk, using your computer.
Proper Diagnosis
Visit a board-certified, sports medicine physician at Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics. Get quick and proper diagnosis, using dynamic ultrasound imaging which can be done at the same time as your office visit. A good spine and sports doctor can also see if there any overlapping injuries like a pinch nerve in your neck that can interfere with your recovery from tennis elbow. We offer non-surgical treatment options like a more targeted exercise program specific for your lifestyle, equipment recommendations, and lifestyle modifications.
Non-Surgical Treatment
For recurring or severe cases of tennis elbow, nonsurgical treatments can still be effective and are often times recommended. A nonsurgical orthopedic specialist, sometimes referred to as a physiatrist or a sports doctor. will help each patient determine the most effective treatment option. Trigger point injections or even hydrodissection are sometimes used to treat more advanced cases of lateral epicondylitis. Needle fenestration and ultrasonic tenotomy use a needle to treat injured tendons. Shockwave therapy uses shock waves to stop the pain and heal tissue. Patelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy involves concentrating your own platelets from your blood and then injecting them into a injured tendon to promote healing. We offer PRP therapy and stem cell injections at Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics to provide patients with lasting pain relief and healing.
Visit a Spine & Sports Doctor for Tennis Elbow
At Regenerative Medicine and Orthopedics, we diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate musculoskeletal conditions like tennis elbow, back pain, arthritis, and more. If tennis elbow is affecting your athletic performance or daily functionality, we will help you explore treatment options. Our team is led by Alicia R. Carter, MD, who is a board-certified sports medicine provider, physiatrist, interventional spine doctor, and regenerative medicine specialist. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn more about our services.