Tagged as: injury prevention| sports injuries
Think tennis elbow only happens to tennis players? Think again. This common condition, known as lateral epicondylitis, affects people who have never even picked up a racquet. In fact, tennis elbow affects about 2% of people annually and is most common in people aged 40-60. If your elbow has been aching after work, home projects, or even typing on your computer, you might be wondering why tennis elbow happens and what you can do about it.
What Exactly Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow occurs when the tendons that attach to the outside of your elbow become irritated or inflamed. These tendons help you extend your wrist and fingers, which means they are active in a lot of everyday movements, like gripping, lifting, or turning objects. Over time, small repetitive motions can strain the area, leading to pain and tenderness on the outer part of the elbow.
Why Tennis Elbow Happens (Even Off the Court)
Despite its sporty name, tennis elbow can be caused by just about any activity that involves repetitive wrist or arm movement. Common culprits include:
- Typing or computer work: Spending long hours at a keyboard or using a mouse can strain the forearm muscles that attach to your elbow.
- Home projects: Activities like painting, gardening, or using hand tools may seem harmless, but repeated motions such as twisting a screwdriver, pruning, or lifting heavy objects can overload your elbow tendons and cause irritation.
- Lifting or carrying: Whether it’s weights at the gym or groceries at home, gripping and lifting repeatedly can trigger irritation of the tendons.
- Sports and hobbies: Golf, pickleball, and even playing a musical instrument involve repeated wrist and forearm movements that can strain the tendons over time.
Basically, tennis elbow happens when there is excessive strain on the muscles that control your wrist and forearm. The result is tiny tears in the tendon where it connects to the elbow, leading to pain that can make even simple tasks uncomfortable.
How Access Sports Medicine Treats Tennis Elbow
At Access Sports Medicine, we start with a thorough evaluation to find out the cause of your pain. Treatment often includes:
- Rest and activity modification to reduce strain.
- Physical therapy focused on stretching, strengthening, and improving flexibility.
- Anti-inflammatory treatments or injections to reduce pain and swelling.
- Tennis elbow braces to wear on your forearm.
- Advanced therapies like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or shockwave therapy are used when needed.
Most cases of tennis elbow improve without surgery, especially when treated early.
Preventing Tennis Elbow in Everyday Life
You don’t have to give up your favorite activities to keep your elbows happy. A few simple habits can go a long way:
- Warm up before repetitive tasks or exercise.
- Use ergonomic tools and maintain good posture at work.
- Strengthen your forearm and shoulder muscles.
- Take breaks during repetitive activities to give your muscles a rest.
Get Back to Doing What You Love Without Pain
Tennis elbow might not come from tennis, but it can still interfere with your daily routine. If you’re dealing with persistent elbow pain, the specialists at Access Sports Medicine can help you recover and prevent it from coming back.
Schedule an appointment today to learn why tennis elbow happens and how to keep it from slowing you down.
