Tennis Elbow

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow is a form of tendonitis that causes pain over the bony prominence called the lateral epicondyle on the outside of the elbow. It is often referred to as lateral epi-condylitis. Tendons are non-elastic fibrous bands that connect muscles to bone.

What Causes It?

Tennis elbow is caused by repetitive stress on the muscles and tendons that are attached to the lateral epicondyle. These muscles extend along the top, or dorsal, side of the forearm to the wrist and are responsible for extending or bending back the wrist and fingers. 

If too much stress is placed on these muscles and tendons, micro tears can occur at the site where the tendons attach to the lateral epicondyle. These micro tears cause pain that is usually localized at the lateral epicondyle but the pain can occasionally radiate down the forearm. Aging appears to make these tendons more prone to breakdown. Therefore, lateral epicondylitis is more common once we get in our fourth decade of life and beyond.

The pain increases with activities that require contraction of the affected muscles and tendons: shaking hands, turning doorknobs, picking up objects with the palm down, or hitting a backhand in tennis. 

How Do I Know If I Have Tennis Elbow?

No special tests are needed to make the diagnosis. This diagnosis is made by history and physical examination of the patient. The patient may present symptoms consistent with tennis elbow and has pain when pressure is applied to the outside of the elbow. The patient frequently cannot remember an injury, but will have noticed the pain either at the beginning or end of an activity that requires wrist and elbow movement. 

X-rays are not always required when evaluating a patient with tennis elbow symptoms, but a doctor may wish to order them, just to make certain that the bone structures of the elbow are normal. Ultrasounds and/or MRI may help for diagnosis confirmation and location of the tendon damages.

How Is Tennis Elbow Treated?

Conservative treatment.

Like many overuse injuries of sport, there is no sure-fired treatment. Rest itself does not necessarily cure the problem, but it may decrease the pain and allows healing to progress with re-injury. Decreased activity with the elbow and wrist is generally preferred over absolute rest and complete inactivity. The healing of tennis elbow can take weeks to months.

Some physicians believe that the key to healing this overuse injury lies in increasing the circulation to the area while decreasing the tightness of the muscles. Therefore, stretching and strengthening exercises are frequently helpful. 

The following exercise may help. Support the forearm on a flat surface with the wrist and hand free. Hold a 1kg weight in the hand. Keeping the palm down, slowly extend the wrist. Bring it backward, or up, and then bend it forward, or down. The muscles on the top of the forearm should contract when the wrist is moved upward and stretch when the hand is moved downward. 

To balance the forearm muscles, these exercises should be repeated with the palm facing up. Each exercise should be repeated ten times slowly. 

A loop of rubber tubing, with one end attached to a table leg or held on the floor with a foot, can be used to provide resistance instead of the weight. This will also increase circulation to the area. 

A snug but not tight strap worn around the top of the forearm often decreases the pull of the muscles on the lateral epicondyle and lessens pain. 

Lateral epicondyle brace.

When symptoms are present during everyday activities, the band should be worn during all waking hours. Occasionally, an elbow sleeve with a pad specially designed to put gentle pressure over the forearm muscles can be used. This sleeve has the advantage of not only changing the pull of the muscles, but keeping them warm as well, which increases their flexibility and circulation. 

A physician may also prescribe ultrasound, laser, shockwave therapy or electrical stimulation to increase circulation to the area. 

Laser therapy

 Extra Corporeal Shock Wave therapy

Surgical or other procedures

  • Injections. If treatment with decreased activity, exercises, and medication is not effective, your physician may recommend injecting cortisone, PRP (platelet-rich plasma), Botox or some form of irritant (prolotherapy) into the painful tendon. Dry needling — in which a needle pierces the damaged tendon in many places — can also be helpful.

  • Ultrasonic tenotomy (TENEX procedure). In this procedure, under ultrasound guidance, a doctor inserts a special needle through your skin and into the damaged portion of the tendon. Ultrasonic energy vibrates the needle so swiftly that the damaged tissue liquefies and can be suctioned out.
  • Surgery. If your symptoms have not improved after six to twelve months of extensive non-operative treatment, you may be a candidate for surgery to remove damaged tissue. Rehabilitation exercises are crucial to recovery.

Tips for Preventing Tennis Elbow

  • Always warm up well before play. Muscles and tendons are like Silly Putty and stretch more when they are warm. Make sure to keep the muscles and tendons warm as you play. 
  • Choose appropriate equipment and maintain it properly. A racquet handle that is too big or too small, strung too tightly or loosely, or has a too big or too small head, may increase stress to the elbow and wrist during play. 
  • Condition for the activity by stretching and strengthening all the muscles used in the sport. Also evaluate play techniques to make sure that they are not irritating the condition. 

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, like aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, or various prescription drugs, can treat the symptoms and may decrease the pain and irritation in and around the tendon. However, it appears unlikely that these medications can actually evoke more rapid healing of the condition. 

Icing the joint after activity may also decrease the irritation and relieve the pain.