Tennis Elbow Treatment and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Exercises

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Tennis Elbow Treatment

Tennis elbow is the common name for the inflammation of the tendons (also know as tendonitis ) attached to the lateral, or outside, of the elbow at the bony bump of the humerus. ( upper arm bone ). The medical term for this bony prominence is called the lateral epicondyle, which is the reason that the condition is also refered to as 'lateral epicondylitis'. The muscles that move the wrist and fingers attach to a tendon that is connected to the bone structure in this area. Tennis elbow patients suffer experience pain on the outer or top part of the elbow. This pain may be experienced farther up the forearm and occasionally even in the hand. The pain is felt during grasping activities and may be accompanied by a feeling of weakness. Sufferers may have an dull ache in the area that is present at rest or at night after activity. Once the tendons become irritated and inflammed is it difficult for them to heal on their own because these tendons are constantly used every time the hand grips or squeezed anything.


Tennis Elbow Causes

Tennis elbow treatment ( lateral epicondylitis ) may result from a sudden violent injury. Repetive Stress Injury ( RSI ) is a much more common cause of tennis elbow because the constant repitition 'overload' the tendons beyond their ability to repair themselves. This repetive stress could come from motions in sport or at work, or even from a change in one regular activity. Such a change could be the result of playing more tennis than usual that results in lateral epicondylitis. A weekend of gardening, tinkering with tools or even opening a very tightly shut jar could lead to an instance of tennis elbow. The key elements seems to be any activity that involves constant squeezing or gripping. A similar condition can occur on the inside of the elbow. This condition is know as medial epicondylitis or 'Golfers elbow' ?

Is Tennis Elbow a serious condition?

Tennis elbow may be painful, it usually does not lead to serious problems. However, if the condition is untreated or becomes very painful, the patient could experience loss of function and loss of motion at the elbow. Tennis elbow treatment in these cases may be a little more difficult, rarely does it result in long term disability.

Tennis elbow is primarily considered a Repetitive Stress Injury( RSI ), the first course of action is to rest the elbow so that it can begin to heal itself.

If you are suffering from tennis elbow, you should first try to identify the movement causing the inflammation. Sometimes this is simple. If you are an avid tennis player, then swinging a tennis racquet is the most likely culprit.

Think about what activities you were involved during the time that you first notices the tennis elbow pain. The most common movements leading to tennis elbow are repetitive motions and/or very strong gripping movements, squeezing objects and heavy lifting.