Tennis elbow…not just for athletes anymore

“Tennis elbow,” technically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition involving tendons that attach to the bone on the outside (lateral) part of the elbow.  This most often occurs from repetitive movements like playing tennis. However, it’s a common condition among certain professions-from painters to plumbers-and also can result from direct trauma to the elbow.

Pain can occur when lifting or gripping objects, or when the elbow is simply touched. During activity, the pain usually starts at the elbow and can travel down the forearm to the hand. So what’s an elbow owner to do?

If you suspect you have tennis elbow, see you physician immediately. He or she will most likely recommend limiting activities that put additional stress on the elbow. Sometimes wearing a brace can help. Medications like anti-inflammatories (oral and injections) are often used to help the pain; and physical therapy and shockwave treatments are sometimes successful in treating the condition. In more complicated cases, however, surgery may be necessary.

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