What is tennis elbow?

Figure 1: Tennis Elbow - Elbow pain - Physio Frenchs Forest, Physio Macquarie Park

Tennis Elbow (Lateral epicondylitis) is the most common overuse syndrome in the elbow. It is a tendon overload injury involving the extensor muscles of your forearm. Amazingly, only about 5% of people who suffer from tennis elbow attribute tennis to be the cause of injury!

 


What causes tennis elbow?

Overloading the tendons in the forearm near their bony attachment in the elbow, is the primary cause of the injury. This attachment is called the common extensor origin (or CEO). Movements such as heavy lifting, computer use, heavy stirring and forceful pronation/supination can all overload this site.

This condition can occur in many sports which require a bat or a racquet as well as with people with repetitive movements in their occupations such as electricians, carpenters and gardeners.

Figure 2: Tennis Elbow - Elbow pain - Physio Frenchs Forest, Physio Macquarie Park

What are the signs and symptoms of tennis elbow?

The primary symptom of tennis is pain - this pain is reproduced by:

  • Palpation on the extensor muscles origin, on the lateral epicondyle.

  • Whilst squeezing your fist on a particular angle

  • Wrist extension (bringing a closed fist upwards) which turn on the overloaded muscles and tug on the insertion

  • Extension of the 3rd finger (this muscle attaches right up on to the insertion)

Most patients also report weakness in grip strength and difficulty carrying objects, especially with elbow extension. They can even be light objects that usually would be easy, like the kettle.

 

What is the treatment of tennis elbow?

When treating tennis elbow, the aim is to reduce pain and improve function.

  • A physiotherapist will start by trying to remove or modify activities you’re doing to help to de-load the tissue and help with pain

  • Manual therapy such as dry needling, soft tissue massage and mobilisation can desensitize painful structures

  • Once pain is improving, a strengthening program will be prescribed

  • Tennis elbow braces can also be useful for patients who need to continue aggravating activities such as tradies and athletes

  • Corticosteroid injections do not appear to improve symptoms

Why do we load tendons and not just rest the painful area?

See our expert Physiotherapy team at Frenchs Forest and Macquarie Park!

Reece Jonestennis elbow, physiotherapy, physio for tennis elbow, frenchs forest, macquarie park