Tennis elbow is also known as lateral epicondylitis. It is a painful condition and it results from overloading of the tendons in your elbow, which may have been due to repetitive movement of the wrist and arm. Even though it may sound like it only happens with athletes, it is not so. It is also seen in case of people who are engaged in different types of activities. It is more common in people who need to perform types of motions that can result in tennis elbow.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of tennis elbow? If you are suffering from tennis elbow, the pain may radiate from the outside of your elbow to your forearm and wrist. You may suffer from pain which will make it difficult for you to shake hands or grip an object. It may be difficult for you to turn a doorknob and hold a cup of coffee. You may take some self-care steps such as rest, use of over-the-counter pain medicines and ice, but if the pain does not go away, it is important for you to see a doctor.

Causes of tennis elbow

Tennis elbow happens when you overuse your muscles. It’s a muscle strain injury. If you repeatedly contract the forearm muscles, then it may happen. The forearm muscles are necessary for straightening and raising your hand and wrist. Because of the repeated motion and the stress, there may be tiny tears in the tendons, at the outside of your elbow and that can cause pain which may gradually extend to other areas.

When a tennis player repeatedly used backhand stroke and specially with a poor technique, then tennis elbow becomes the inevitable thing. Besides that there are many other causes which can result in tennis elbow. Such causes include using plumping tools, driving screws, painting, repetitive computer mouse use, cutting meat etc.

Risk factors

There are several factors which may increase the risk of tennis elbow. Such risk factors include age, occupation and certain sports.

Even though tennis elbow may happen to anyone at any age, it is more common in adults in the range of 30 to 50. If you are in a job that needs repetitive motions of your wrist and arm, you are at higher risk of developing tennis elbow. This problem is more common in plumbers,  painters, butchers, carpenters and cooks. It is also more common in case of people who play certain sports like most of the racquet sports. If you have a poor technique in playing a shot, then you are more likely to develop tennis elbow.

Care

Tennis elbow care may include guidance of specialists in sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation. Advance evaluation and prevention strategies may be necessary for you to get rid of the pain associated weight tennis elbow and also to prevent any future occurrence of the problem. If it is happening because of your poor technique in a sport or activity, it is possible for you to correct that and learn the correct technique. Analysis of the technique will help you to find out the problem with you and then rectify it accordingly.

Proper care from the expert doctors and sports medicine experts may be necessary for you to stay away from this problem which can disrupt your normal life and prevent you from different activities that you love. If you are suffering from the pain for several days, it may be necessary to see your doctor find a cure yourself at home.

References

1. Cure Tennis Elbow
2. Tennis elbow
3. Elbow pain