Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) Condition

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow is a painful condition in which the tendons connecting your bones to your forearm muscles become weakened due to overuse and repetitious movements. Also referred to as lateral epicondylitis, this condition results in inflammation of the tendons on the outside of the elbow. As a result, it should not be confused with golfer’s elbow, which impacts the other side of the elbow. The inflammation and other damage to those forearm muscles and tendons results in tenderness along the outside elbow, as well as pain.

Though the condition is a relatively common affliction for tennis players, those cases make up only about five percent of all tennis elbow diagnoses. Most cases are the result of using hand tools, painting, and other repetitious activities. Most of these injuries are considered mild and will typically resolve themselves with adequate rest and pain management. However, when tendons have small tears as is common with this condition, patients may experience ongoing pain for some time. The good news is that osteopathic care can be an effective way to manage pain and expedite the healing process.

What Causes this Condition?

There can be many causes contributing to this elbow condition. The most common factors include:

• Tennis and other racket sports that place repetitious stress on the muscles and tendons in the forearms.
• Assembly line work, where the hands and forearms are involved in repeating the same motions over and over.
• Painting and playing of certain types of musical instruments
• Using chainsaws
• Carpentry and woodworking
• Automobile repair, bodywork, etc.
• Injuries, such as a sudden direct impact to the elbow.

What Are the Symptoms of Tennis Elbow?

Like other elbow, hand and wrist conditions, the symptoms of tennis elbow can be extremely uncomfortable and disruptive to daily activities. Those symptoms can include:

• Pain in the area where the forearm tendons meet the outside of your elbow.
• Pain that spreads to the forearm, wrist, and palm.
• Weakness in the forearm, hand, and fingers.
• Increased pain when you are trying to grip objects or shake hands.
• Weakness that makes it difficult to hold a glass or turn a key or doorknob.

Patients who experience this condition should seek treatment as soon as possible. Left untreated, the injury can result in progressive damage to the affected area, loss of mobility and range of motion, and chronic pain.

How We Can Help

Osteopathic care can be an effective way to help you recover from this painful condition. Leonid Tafler, D.O. has extensive experience treating tennis elbow and the full range of elbow, hand and wrist conditions, with safe, gentle osteopathic techniques, lifestyle plans, physical therapy, and education to help you lead a more pain-free life.