Tennis elbow, unlike its name suggests, can cause excruciating pain for anyone who overuses their elbow. While playing tennis is the most common activity that results in tennis elbow for its players, (1 in 3 tennis players experience it at least once during their career), tennis elbow can afflict anyone who bends their arm, elbow and wrist in a repetitive motion during their work or hobbies. From gardeners, to avid video game players, even people who clean their house often end up with this condition.
What is It?
Tennis elbow occurs when a strain or tear takes place in the muscles and tendon tissues attached to the elbow joint, causing intense pain, swelling and tenderness. Known medically as lateral epicondylitis, tennis elbow is treatable and preventable.
What Causes Tennis Elbow?
Any activity that requires excessive constant gripping or squeezing can cause tennis elbow, including hobbies such as painting, housework that involves a hammer or texting on a cell phone.
In the game of tennis, the following maneuvers that often result in tennis elbow include:
- One-handed backhand
- A late forehand swing
- Snapping and turning the wrist while serving with full power
Signs and Symptoms
You may have tennis elbow if you're experiencing any of the following:
- Morning stiffness of the elbow with persistent aching
- Soreness of the forearm muscles
- Elbow pain that becomes worse when grasping or holding an object
- Experiencing pain on the outside of the elbow, sometimes quite suddenly
- Worsened pain when using the wrist strength to do an everyday activity such as using cutlery or brushing your teeth
Getting Diagnosed for Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow will not appear on an x-ray or blood test, so the only way you can be diagnosed with tennis elbow is by your doctor observing your arm, wrist and elbow, and using your pain description as a method in identifying what you're suffering from.
Treatment Options
Tennis elbow rarely requires surgery, and can be treated in other ways. The methods your physician or chiropractor recommends will vary depending on the area affected, the severity of your pain, and other factors related to your overall health.
The purpose of tennis elbow treatment will be to reduce inflammation, promote fast healing and reduce the amount of stress placed on the affected area. On top of regular visits with your chiropractor, you will most likely be advised to refrain from using your elbow. If you're experiencing pain as a result of a specific activity, you will have to take a break from the activity until it is fully healed.
If you believe you may be suffering from tennis elbow, contact the professionals at ChiroCare of Florida today for a full evaluation. Together, your chiropractor will work with you to create an effective treatment plan so that you can get back to feeling like yourself as soon as possible. Call us at 1-877-DRRIGHT today.
