TENNIS & GOLFERS ELBOW (EPICONDYLITIS)

What is Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)?

Tennis elbow is an irritation of the muscles on your forearm that extend your wrist backwards, more specifically where these muscles attach at your elbow. This condition can be quite painful and cause weakness in your grip. While this can be quite debilitating and irritate day to day motions like typing, gripping and lifting, this injury can be treated with a focused treatment plan.

How can physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapists can help decrease pain and improve function in your day to day life by using bracing, soft tissue therapy and helping to find ways to modify your movements. This condition can persist for some time and is often misdiagnosed, so it’s important to avoid pushing through pain.

What can I do to help before my appointment?

Listen to your body. If gripping or typing motions are getting increasingly painful as the days progress then try to use your off hand as much as you can. Some may find ice packs are helpful to decrease the intensity of pain but this can have negative effects with certain underlying issues. Consult your physiotherapist prior to use.

What is Golfers Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)?

A common repetitive strain condition of the wrist flexor tendons (most commonly the pronator teres and flexor carpi radialis tendons) at their attachment to the medial epicondyle of the humerus. It occurs with overuse and is common in sports, such as baseball pitching, driving golf swings, swimming, or occupations that require a strong hand grip and excessive pronation of the forearm. (1). Signs and symptoms can include pain on the inside of the elbow and can spread down the inside of forearm, grip weakness and elbow stiffness in the AM.

How can physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapists can help decrease pain and improve function in your day to day life by using bracing, manual and soft tissue therapy and helping to find ways to modify your movements. This condition can persist for some time and is often misdiagnosed, so it’s important to avoid pushing through pain.

What can I do to help before my appointment?

Listen to your body. If gripping or typing motions are getting increasingly painful as the days progress then try to use your off hand as much as you can. Some may find ice packs are helpful to decrease the intensity of pain but this can have negative effects with certain underlying issues. Consult your physiotherapist prior to use.

(1) Medial Epicondylitis [Internet]. Physiopedia. [cited 2018Apr3]. Available from: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Medial_Epicondylitis

(2) Dingemanse R, Randsdorp M, Koes BW, Huisstede BM. Evidence for the effectiveness of electrophysical modalities for treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2014 Jun 1;48(12):957-65.

(3) Bisset LM, Vicenzino B. Physiotherapy management of lateral epicondylalgia. Journal of physiotherapy. 2015 Oct 1;61(4):174-81.

(4) Herd CR, Meserve BB. A systematic review of the effectiveness of manipulative therapy in treating lateral epicondylalgia. Journal of Manual & Manipulative Therapy. 2008 Oct 1;16(4):225-37.

(5) Physio P. Diagnosis: Medial Epicondylalgia [Internet]. POGO Physio Gold Coast. POGO Physio Gold Coast; 2017 [cited 2018Apr3]. Available from: https://www.pogophysio.com.au/blog/diagnosis-medial-epicondylalgia/

Elbow pain often does not subside on it’s own. Often golfers elbow or tennis elbow pain lingers or worsens without targeted therapy. Come visit us for a thorough assessment and diagnosis of your elbow pain and we’ll help guide you along the path relief. Hands-on therapy, evidence based modalities and a safe, progressive rehabilitation program will get you back to playing the sports and doing the things you love most. We look forward to helping you.