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Join Airrosti’s Caitlin Jones, DC as she goes over everything you need to know about tennis elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis). She discusses the symptoms associated with this common injury as well as everyday treatment methods. She also explains how Airrosti’s approach to treating this injury allows patients to take control of their recovery plan.
Tennis elbow is a common term for a condition caused by overuse of arm, forearm, and hand muscles that results in elbow pain. You don’t have to play tennis to get this injury, but the term came into use because it can be a significant problem for some tennis players. Tennis elbow affects 1% to 3% of the population overall and as many as 50% of tennis players during their careers.
Tennis elbow is caused by either abrupt or subtle injury of the muscle and tendon area around the outside of the elbow. This injury specifically involves the area where the muscles and tendons of the forearm attach to the outside bony area (called the lateral epicondyle) of the elbow. Your doctor may call this condition lateral epicondylitis.
Tennis elbow is similar to another condition called golfer’s elbow, which affects the tendons on the inside of the elbow. Your doctor may call this condition medial epicondylitis.
This condition specifically involves the lateral epicondyle, the part of the elbow where the muscles and tendons attach to the outside bony part of the elbow.
The extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) muscle helps stabilize the wrist when the elbow is straight. When the ECRB is weakened from overuse, small tears form in the tendon where it attaches to the lateral epicondyle. This leads to inflammation and pain in the elbow joint.
Lateral Epicondylitis is the most common reason that people see their doctors for elbow pain. While it is most common in people between the ages of 30 and 50, people can develop tennis elbow at any age. It also tends to affect men more than women.
This condition often impacts tennis players, athletes in racquet sports, and people who participate in leisure or work activities that require repetitive arm, elbow, wrist, and hand movements. Examples include golfers, baseball players, bowlers, landscapers, carpenters, and mechanics.
The most common signs of tennis elbow include swelling and pain on the outside of the elbow. The pain is more likely to be present when gripping an object, opening a door, or raising your hand above your head.
Other signs of lateral epicondylitis include:
Usually, the pain is on the outside of the elbow and might be accompanied by warmth and swelling. The elbow may maintain its full range of motion, as the inner joint is not affected.
To diagnose the source of your injury, your doctor will perform a thorough exam. They may also request imaging tests to diagnose the condition or rule out more serious injuries.
To treat tennis elbow, your doctor may suggest a variety of non-invasive options before considering injections or surgery. This injury often responds well to conservative care, including physical therapy, icing, pain medications, and rest. In some cases, a forearm brace is used to support the affected tendons and musculature. Topical cortisone gels may also be used to reduce inflammation.
In some cases, steroid injections may also be used to treat this injury.
While conservative treatment is often successful, the most important element in traditional care is rest. Depending on your condition’s severity, you may need to rest your elbow for weeks before returning to activity.
This injury can take from 6 months to 12 months to fully heal. There are cases of pain persisting for more than a year.
Many individuals suffering from injuries like tennis elbow seek Airrosti care as an alternative to long periods of rest or invasive and costly surgeries. Airrosti treatment can help dramatically speed recovery and relieve pain, without drugs or injections. Most patients can return to normal activity within only 1 to 3 visits, based on patient-reported outcomes.
Call Airrosti at (800) 404-6050 or click here to schedule your first worry-free visit so we can quickly get you on the road to recovery.
Reviewed by Casey Crisp, Doctor of Chiropractic
Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program. If you experience any numbness, tingling or reproduction of your symptoms, please contact your doctor.
Reviewed by Casey Crisp, Doctor of Chiropractic
Disclaimer: Always consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program. If you experience any numbness, tingling or reproduction of your symptoms, please contact your doctor.
I first saw Dr. Camp for, basically, tennis elbow, after my physician recommended Airrosti, since it's a soft-tissue injury. I didn't know what to expect, but he walked me through what would happen at each visit. He does a great job of asking questions and then also distracting me while he's helping solve for the injury. The exercises he recommended also helped resolve my pain quickly. Fast-forward a year later, I'm finally back at the gym post-pandemic, and my knee is killing me. Then my IT band is killing me. I came back to Dr. Camp because I knew he'd help me resolve the issues quickly. He taught me about what was going on, why things were hurting where they did, then went to work on breaking up the fascia around my knee and outside o...+ show moref my leg, which was not fun. However, he kept me distracted so I could manage the treatment -- he's a nice guy. When I actually took the time to faithfully do all the exercises, I saw really quick improvements. He explained how stretching and strengthening certain muscles help with the condition, and that understanding helped me prioritize the exercises and dramatically reduce my pain quickly. I love that Airrosti has videos of all the exercises, that Dr. Camp takes time to explain the pain (versus just treating it), and that I can do my part on my own time to recover even faster (or at least not hurt myself again). Everyone there has been very helpful, personable, and you can't beat the fast recovery times. I'm very glad I found Airrosti and Dr. Camp.
by Leigh Choate
