Tennis Elbow Physical Therapy & TreatmentIn Louisville, Evansville & Southern Indiana
Tennis elbow is the most common overuse injury that occurs at the elbow, and surprisingly primarily affects people who do not play tennis.
Another term for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis, which means inflammation of the small bony area on the outside of your elbow. A physical therapist for tennis elbow is a great way to reduce inflammation and increase the strength of the appropriate muscles.
What Causes Tennis Elbow & How to Tell if You Have It
Tennis elbow is caused by repetitive overuse of your forearm muscles. Some ways this can happen include tennis, golf, playing guitar or other instruments, and typing, but there are many other activities that could cause this condition. The repeated wrist extension that is involved in some of these activities requires you to use your forearm muscles to powerfully contract to bring your wrist backwards. When this motion is performed over and over again, the tendon where the muscles connect to the bone can become inflamed or damaged.
How to Treat Tennis Elbow
The most common symptom of tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the elbow that gets worse when doing certain activities, and feels better with rest. For example, if you find that you are having increased elbow pain while playing guitar and the outside of your elbow is tender to the touch, you may consider a physical therapist for tennis elbow. Some common treatment options to help cure tennis elbow include rest, anti-inflammatory medication, corticosteroid injections, and stretching and strengthening with a physical therapist. Occasionally surgery is performed, but most patients recover with non-operative treatment.
How Physical Therapists Can Help
Elbow pain associated with tennis elbow can usually be managed very easily. Your therapist will likely encourage you to take a short break from the activity that most aggravates your elbow pain, while also providing stretches and strengthening exercises for the forearm muscles. Massage of the tendon, ultrasound, and other modalities are sometimes used to reduce pain and stimulate healing and regeneration of the damaged tissue. See a physical therapist today to address your elbow pain and quickly return to your hobbies and activities without pain!
