Do you suffer from Elbow Tendonitis or Tennis Elbow?
Elbow tendonitis, popularly known as Tennis Elbow affects millions of people, typically in the age group of 35-60 all over the world.
The association with the highly popular sport of tennis has made the medical condition tennis elbow famous. But the term tennis elbow creates a false impression. Tennis elbow’s exclusive association with the sports is false. The idea of elbow tendonitis being caused by tennis alone is a misconception. Cases of tennis elbow have been reported from people and parts or the world, who haven’t even watched tennis on TV!
Tendonitis doesn’t just affect the elbow. In fact tendonitis or severe and repetitive pain in the ‘tendons’ can and does occur in other joints in the human body too.
Elbow tendonitis symptoms
The major symptoms of Elbow tendonitis are severe and recurrent pain at the elbow joint, especially when stressed to lift a weight or during sudden movement.
In pure medical terms, the ‘elbow’ is the joint at the meeting of the upper and lower arms, where the humerus (upper arm bone) meets the twin bones of radius and ulna (lower arm bones) and the connecting tendon tissues covering both sides is called lateral epicondyles. Hence, in medical terms, the problem is referred as lateral epicondylitis. The suffix ‘itis’ is used in medical terms to convey, pain at times associated with inflammation.
Symptoms may also include tenderness on the outside of the upper arm at the elbow (lateral epicondyles) and swelling associated with pain to the touch at the inflamed joint.
Causes of Elbow tendonitis
What exactly are the causes of this syndrome, if tennis alone is not the culprit? The most important cause of Elbow tendonitis is repetitive strain on the tendon (including tennis) due to work habits such as heavy manual labor, lifting of heavy objects in the factory or porters lifting heavy cases and weight lifters.
Elbow tendonitis and Age
Elbow tendonitis may occur due to advancing age, which causes the ‘hardening’ of tendons and consequent losing the flexibility at the joint.
Injury induced elbow tendonitis
Elbow tendonitis can occur at times due to ‘one-off’ stressing of the elbow joint by putting the joint and the tendons to very high stress levels that they are not used to. This is often referred to as ‘injury induced’ tendonitis. This can also happen to athletes, body builders, weight lifters etc, who in an attempt to reach their self-defined goals, over-stretch themselves, leading to injuries. Elbow tendonitis may also occur due to injuries due to accidents, especially in the aged, who in trying to cushion a slip or fall may cause injury.
Medical conditions that may cause or trigger elbow tendonitis
Other existing medical conditions such as arthritis, diabetes may either cause or trigger elbow tendonitis. Some sports such as mountain climbing, rock climbing etc may suffer ‘thermal ‘injuries leading to tendonitis.
Treatment of elbow tendonitis
Treatment of elbow tendonitis to a great extent depends on what exactly has caused the problem.
Rest
In cases other than previous medical problems, the first treatment is to give the joint ‘total rest’ which may at times require application of suitable harness or bandaging. This helps the body’s natural recuperative process to take charge and repair the damage.
Ice Treatment
Use of ice is recommended for tendonitis triggered by injury or sudden extreme stress. Hot or cold compression helps to reduce the inflammation and tenderness at the side of the joint.
Arm elevation
Keeping the arms elevated above heart level relieves pain and help in countering swelling. Once these have failed to give desired relief, consult a doctor, who in extreme cases may suggest surgery.
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Tennis Elbow Pain Cure
Filed under elbow injuries, Elbow Pain, Tennis Elbow by on Oct 3rd, 2011. 
The importance of Tennis Exercises
The tennis season traditionally starts with the first big grand slam in Australia. For many amatuer players the recent warmer weather has meant returning to the court. So it is time for a friendly reminder from your resident physiotherapist to always warm up properly by doing tennis warm-up exercises before you start playing tennis.
Tennis exercises and supports
Without performing a proper warm-up your muscles will be vulnerable to injury. All too often players are so eager to start playing that they forget or don’t bother with tennis warm up exercises. Remember, those simple stretches and tennis exerices really do help prevent injuries. Also consider using elbow and knee supports if you are prone to weakness in those areas. Prevention really is better than cure.
Filed under elbow injuries, Tennis Elbow Exercises by on Apr 19th, 2011.
Yes it is true, the elbow is one of the most frequently injured joints in the body. I see patients at my clinics with elbow dislocation, fractures and sprains, Elbow Bursitis, elbow arthritis, and other elbow conditions.
Connecting the bones of the upper arm to the inner and outer bones of the forearm, the elbow works much like a hinge, able to move forward, backward and in rotational movement. The elbow is made up of three long bones. These bones gives the arm full mobility, but in doing so, puts the elbow in a dangerous position.
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Filed under elbow injuries, Elbow Pain by on Jun 5th, 2010. Comment.
Another common injury to the elbow is fracture, or breaking of the bones that make up the joint.
There are many causes for bone fracture, from blunt force trauma to dislocation. Symptoms associated with fracture are severe pain, bruising, loss of range of motion, possible disfigurement of the joint, and numbness
If you’ve suffered elbow injury do read the new article I’ve just published a about Fractured Elbow and other elbow injuries.
Click below now for further information about Elbow Fracture
Filed under elbow injuries, Elbow Pain by on Oct 16th, 2009. 1 Comment.
Elbow pain can be debilitating and some types of elbow pain require elbow surgery.
There are several different kinds of surgery performed on the elbow. It is up to the physician to determine which surgery is best suited for the patient, so that the best outcome is possible.
Deciding whether or not to have elbow surgery is a major decision. Do get as much information as possible when it may be necessary to consider taking this course of action.
For more details about the different types of elbow surgery available click the link below:
Filed under elbow injuries, Elbow Pain by on Oct 16th, 2009. Comment.
Elbow Dislocation is the most common of all elbow injuries, and probably the most painful, is dislocation. Dislocation occurs when the elbow joint is pulled out of its normal configuration, usually as the result of hyperextension.
If you’ve suffered elbow injury do read the new article I’ve just published a about Elbow Dislocation and other elbow injuries.
Click below now for further information about Elbow Dislocation:
Filed under elbow injuries, Elbow Pain, Tennis Elbow by on Oct 15th, 2009. Comment.
If you have a sore elbow it may be caused because of a labor intensive job, a sports injury or just normal wear and tear. The problem is that living with the pain makes everything more difficult. A sore elbow can be a major inconvenience when completing simple everyday activities.
I’ve just published an article about types of elbow pain and elbow pain treatment. Click below now for further information:
Filed under elbow injuries, Elbow Pain, Tennis Elbow by on Oct 14th, 2009. Comment.
