What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis Elbow can be a stubborn condition causing pain on the outside of your elbow. It is associated with tennis players who grip their racquets, However most people who have tennis elbow are not tennis players. The muscles on the top of your forearm act together to extend your wrist. This can make lifting using your wrist painful, unscrewing jars can also be very sore as well as lifting shopping.
Tennis elbow can affect anyone, but tends to come on more as we get into our 30s and 40s. Often it occurs when we start using our wrist more often. Tennis elbow presents with pain on the outside of your elbow which can be constant at the beginning. It is painful in your forearm up to your wrist and can be painful to straighten your elbow. Usually the constant pain settles after a week or so, however it often remains painful to lift a kettle or even a mug.
Treatments for Tennis Elbow
Treatments can include forearm strengthening exercises, and stretches. This is to build up your forearm strength. Occasionally the Physiotherapist will apply specific local treatment called deep frictions to help break down the adhesion caused when a scar forms If you are experiencing constant discomfort even when resting, cortico-steroid injection may be a good option, as there could be some inflammation that needs to be settled first.
Physiotherapy treatment can last from a few weeks to 3 months, however most of this will be as your tennis elbow is improving, and is often carried out with home exercises.
What is Golfers Elbow?
Golfers elbow is very similar to tennis elbow. However pain it is felt on the inside of your elbow. It affects the muscles on the front of your forearm, these are normally used when gripping. Although most elbow pains are usually tennis elbow, golfers elbow can be especially painful as your affected tendon is very large.
Treatment for Golfers Elbow
Treatment for golfers elbow, is to strengthen the forearm flexors, cortico-, steroid injection in the early stages if acutely painful. Your Physiotherapist can guide you through the stages of treatment. Injection, strengthening exercises or occasionally rest.