Causes of and treatments for tennis elbow.

1. TENNIS ELBOW-WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO GET IT BETTER! By Ed Reilly DC, CCSP
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a painful condition of the tendons that attach muscles in the forearm to the
elbow. It affects 1-3% of the population usually between 30-50 years of age. 50% of all tennis players get this
sometime in their careers. It occurs 75% in the dominant hand. Even through this is called tennis elbow many people
get this from doing repetitive work.
WHO GETS IT-carpenters, factory workers, painters computer users and anyone who use their hands and forearm to
perform tasks repetitively. As a chiropractor having successfully treated over 200 cases of tennis elbow most of the
cases I have helped were caused by jobs requiring repetitive hand and arm work.
SYMPTOMS- The main symptoms are elbow and forearm pain and weakness. Swelling may be present Your grip
strength may be decreased. Many experience specific pain on the bony portion (lateral epicondyle) of the outside of
the elbow.
COMMON CAUSES-The most common cause is overuse of the forearm and wrist muscles. This produces shortened
forearm muscles with degeneration of the tendons (of the forearm muscles) where they attach to the outside of the
elbow. Degeneration of the tendons occurs where they attach to the outside of the elbow. Direct trauma may also cause
this.
TREATMENTS-Treatments can be broken done into three categories, self treatments, medical treatment and integrated
treatment. Many cases of tennis elbow resolve with self care based treatment while over 95% improve without surgical
intervention.
SELF TREATMENTS-
>Cessation, reduction or modification of activities that cause elbow pain
>Tennis elbow brace, our favorite is made by Serola. Worn 2 inches below the elbow. See our website.
>Tennis elbow stretches, hold your arm at your side roll your wrist and fingers up into a ball and roll your wrist,
arm and hand counterclockwise (roll into your body). See an example of this at our website fairviewdc.com
under the banner tab Tennis Elbow treatment. Hold for 15 seconds done 8-10 times per day.
>Elbow forearm self-massage- see a handout on how to do this on our website under the tab, Tennis elbow.
> Icing 8-10 minutes 2-3 times per day.
MEDICAL TREATMENTS
>NSAIDs-these are over the counter and or prescription anti-inflammatory drugs. They can be helpful in the
short term but may inhibit the healing process in the long term.
>Steroid injections-can be helpful but fail to treat the underlying cause, shortened or weakened
musclestendons.
>Surgery-treatment of last resort, tendon release or repair surgery.
INTEGRATED TREATMENTS
 Myofascial release to the forearm and elbow. This type of treatment can often produce quick results while
getting at the underlying cause, most effective while moving the wrist in a flexed and extended motions.
 Therband Flexibar Eccentric rehab- this new exercise protocol involves using a flexible bar and forearm
strengthening exercises. Research shows it to be a very effective treatment. See our website for a photo of
this product under the Tennis Elbow tab.
 Elbow taping using kinesotape to support the damaged tissue and speed healing
 Elbow and wrist manipulation to insure there are proper joint mechanics(this alone sometimes resolves
elbow pain)
 Cold laser therapy has show to be highly effective for reducing pain and speeding healing
 Nutrition therapy using specific tendon protocols for maximum healing.
If you have acute or chronic elbow pain try modifying the activities that increase your symptoms. If that doesn’t work,
go to my website fairviewdc.com, go to the Tennis Elbow tab and download the best tennis elbow stretch, the tennis
elbow self massage protocol and details about the Therband Flexibar. If that doesn’t work seek out professional care.
You don’t have to suffer with elbow pain, it is something that is routinely helped with the proper care.