ELBOW EPICONDYLITIS
Elbow epicondylitis (Lateral epicondylitis), also known as 'Tennis Elbow', is the most common problem in the elbow. It is a tendon injury involving the extensor muscles of the forearm. It is a painful condition that occurs when tendons in the elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm.
The name notwithstanding, it is also common see this chronic condition in other sporting disciplines. It is also commonly present among people whose jobs have repetitive one-sided movements, such as electricians, carpenters, gardeners, and desk bound jobs as well.
The pain of tennis this conditions occurs primarily where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to a bony bump on the outside of your elbow. Pain can also spread into your forearm and wrist.
Rest and over the counter pain relievers often help relieve tennis elbow. If conservative treatments don't help or if symptoms are disabling.
SYMPTOMS
The pain associated with tennis elbow may radiate from the outside of one’s elbow into the forearm and wrist.
The pain and weakness may present difficulties when:
- Shaking hands or gripping an object
- Turning a doorknob
- Holding a cup
CAUSES
Tennis elbow is an injury occasioned by the overuse and strain of muscle. The cause is the repeated contraction of the forearm muscles that are used to straighten and raise the hand and wrist. It is the repeated motions and stress to tissue that result in tiny tears in the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the bony prominence on the outside of your elbow.
One common cause of ‘tennis elbow’ as the name suggests is the repeated use of the backhand stroke with poor technique while playing tennis.
Aside of that many other common arm motions can cause this condition, these include:
- Using plumbing tools
- Repetitive use of computer mouse
- Driving screws
- Painting
- Cutting up cooking ingredients, particularly meat
Tennis elbow can also develop through any form of activity that involves repeatedly twisting the wrist and using the forearm muscles.
Examples include:
- Playing racquet sports such as tennis, badminton or squash,
- Playing racquet sports presents an increased risk of developing tennis elbow, especially when playing for the first time after a long break.
- Activities that engages repetitive hand and wrist movement (e.g. using scissors or typing).
- Throwing sports (field events such as the javelin or discus),
- Using shears while gardening,
- Using a paintbrush or roller,
- Manual work (e.g. plumbing or bricklaying, carpentry),
- Other activities that involve bending the elbow repeatedly (e.g. playing the violin or guitar).
- Cutting down trees with a chain saw
- Kitchen work, such as cutting with a knife
- Working on cars
- Working on an assembly line
RISK FACTORS
Factors that may increase the risk of elbow epicondylitis include:
- Age: The condition is most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 50. However, tennis elbow affects people of all ages.
- Occupation: People whose jobs involve the repetitive motions of the wrist and arm are more likely to develop tennis elbow. (e.g. plumbers, painters, carpenters, butchers and cooks).
- Certain sports: Participating in racket sports especially increases the risk of tennis elbow, especially with the employment of poor stroke techniques.
TREATMENT
A typical doctor will first ask for the suspension of sporting activities or certain kinds of work to ensure the arm can rest. Subsequently, some physical therapy together with medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen may be recommended.
our doctor might also resort to:
- Corticosteroid medications: This will be injected into the area to help with swelling and pain.
- A splint or brace: To be worn on your arm to help the muscles and tendons rest.
- Ultrasound: This can break up scar tissue, increase blood flow, and promote healing.
- Surgery: Most people who have tennis elbow recover without surgery. However, this mode of treatment can be recommended if the pain persists after a considerable period.
PREVENTION
Some small changes and a little effort might help lower the risk of developing tennis elbow. Warm up and stretch before any activity, especially one that involves making the same motions over and over.Try not to make repetitive movements.
Exercises
The following exercises can help rehabilitate tennis elbow:
- Wrist turn
- Bend the elbow at a right angle,
- Extend the hand outwards, palm facing up
- Twist the wrist around gradually, until the palm is facing down
- Hold the position for 5 seconds
- Wrist turn with weight
- The wrist turn with weight is the same as the wrist turn above, except that in this version, the person also grips a light weight, such as a small dumbbell or a tin of food.
- Wrist lift, palm up:
- grip a light weight, such as a small dumbbell or a tin of food
- bend the elbow at a right angle
- extend the hand outwards, palm facing up
- bend the wrist up towards the body
- hold this position for 5 seconds, then release slowly
- Elbow bend
- Stand straight
- Lower the arm to one side
- Slowly bend the arm upwards until the hand touches the shoulder
- Hold this position for 15 to 30 seconds.
- Wrist extensor flex
- Raise the arm straight out in front of the body
- With the palm facing down, slowly bend the wrist upwards
- Using the other hand, gently pull the fingers back towards the body
- Hold this position for 15 to 30 seconds
- Straighten the wrist again
- Wrist extensor stretch
- Raise the arm straight out in front of the body
- With the palm facing down, slowly bend the wrist downwards
- The other hand, gently pull the stretching hand back towards the body
- This position for 15 to 30 seconds
- Straighten the wrist again
- Fist squeeze
With a rolled-up towel, sock, or tennis ball in the palm;
- Grip the ball or towel with the fingers to form a tight fist
- Squeeze tightly for 10 seconds
- Towel twist
- Hold a loosely rolled-up towel lengthways, with one hand at each end
- Keep the shoulders relaxed
- Twist the towel by moving the hands in opposite directions, as if wringing out water
