Have you been diagnosed with ‘Tennis Elbow’, but you don’t play tennis?

Are you confused yet?

I know I was at first when I learned about tennis elbow.

What is Tennis Elbow? 

To put it simply, tennis elbow is the most common name given to this condition as it is caused by repetitive movements. It is an overuse injury.

It is the mechanism of hitting a tennis ball that gives rise to its name, and the combination of movement from the hand, wrist to the elbow that leads to this injury.

This condition also goes by a few other names, elbow tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis, lateral epicondylalgia…boring, right?

I think we can stick to tennis elbow for now.

Who does tennis elbow affect?

Aside from tennis players, which is likely the smaller population of people impacted by this condition…the list is extensive:

• Tradespeople
• Kitchen staff,
• Anyone who uses a computer
• People who perform heavy lifting
• Gardeners
• cleaners
• People that participate in house related work
• Anyone who performs repetitive flexion, extension, rotation and deviation of the wrist… which could include nearly any task that requires fine manipulation.

This condition is most common in those aged 30-50. It is usually present in the dominant arm, it is rare to occur in both elbows.

How to help your ‘Tennis Elbow’ at home

If you were to Google, ‘quick fixes for tennis elbow at home’, you may receive an answer something like… “Stop playing tennis until your symptoms subside.”

This is potentially not helpful for a couple of  reasons:

• Firstly, you likely don’t play tennis…
• Two, movement is actually helpful in this condition.

What exercises are helpful?

General range of motion exercises, gaining movement into the wrist/elbow in all directions can be beneficial. “Motion is Lotion.”

Wringing/twisting a towel

Research states that resisted isometric exercises have been effective for these types of overuse injuries The exercise involves static contraction of the muscle/s. An example of this type of exercise is as below:

Scrunchy/hair tie exercise

Stretches may also help:

Extension and flexion of the wrist, where tension is felt at the elbow, held for 20-30secs

Flexion Stretch

Extension Stretch

Bracing: 

You may purchase a ‘false insertion brace’

This grips over the tendons at the elbow on the outside, that are impacted by tennis elbow. These attempt to reduce the force or load on the tendons at the elbow attachments.

If the at home help is no longer helping or unsuccessful…

Our team of Osteopaths are ready to help you. A comprehensive osteopathic examination can help tailor the appropriate management to the individual. A number of exercises and stretches have been included in this blog that are likely to be safe to perform at home, however further exercises and a specific rehabilitation approach may provide more benefit depending on the activities you participate in day to day.

The Osteopathic approach may include: 

• Massage/ soft tissue techniques
• Dry needling
• Passive stretching/articulation of the joint and muscles.
• Rehabilitation program

These approaches will be specific to the individual, and may result in a decrease in pain, fluid movement, encourage the body’s natural healing process

Every procedure/treatment carries risk, it is important that these are discussed with your Osteopath prior to commencing treatment to deem which treatment is most suitable/safe for the individual.

Written By Dr. Schae Harrison (Osteopath)