How to Prevent and Avoid Getting Tennis Elbow Preventing tennis elbow is always better than curing it. You need to regularly perform stretching and strengthening of your wrist and forearm muscles. If your wrist and forearm muscles are strong, you could prevent tennis elbow. You can also do the following to reduce the strain on your arms while working or playing: Avoid using the same hand and arm movements over and over. If it is impossible to avoid such movements wear a brace and take breaks as often as you can Practice using your shoulder and upper arm muscles in your movements to reduce the strain that your elbows absorb Know the range of motion of your arm. As much as possible, stay in the middle and avoid bending or straightening your arm all the way Warm up and stretch before playing a sport Avoid working with a bent wrist Stick to smooth movements instead of sharp, jerky ones Rotate jobs or do different tasks, and change your workstations to reduce strain by repetition Use tools with bigger grips Handle tools with a looser grip Use padding to help absorb the shock when using a hammer Seek the help of a coach to help you with the right form and technique of playing the sport you like.

The procedure: If your symptoms do not respond to non-surgical treatments after 6 to 12 months, surgery may be recommended by your doctor. In most surgical procedures for tennis elbow, the diseased muscle is removed and healthy muscle is reattached back to your bone. There is no hard and fast rule on what kind of surgery will be performed. The right approach will depend on a number of factors like the scope and extent of your injury, your overall health, and your personal needs. When you talk to your prospective surgeon, request him to discuss in detail the nature of each option, including the risks associated with each procedure. Risks of the procedure: Infection Whenever surgery is performed, one of the possible complications is an infection. To prevent the onset of infection, surgeons always take proper precautions such as implementing a sterile environment during the surgery and often giving you antibiotics immediately before or after your operation. However, in some cases infections result due to complications or pre-existing issues with the patient, and in some rare cases due to a mistake on the part of the surgeon. Nerve and blood vessel damage As the surgeons maneuver through layers of tissue during your operation, it is possible that some of your nerves and blood vessels will be damaged.

Treating Tennis Elbow Without Surgical Intervention Stretching exercises Approximately 80% to 95% of patients get better without resorting to surgery if they use proper stretching exercises. The main purpose of the stretching exercises is to gradually increase the load which is transmitted through the tendon and its attachment—but not beyond the limits of the existing pain. Some of these stretching exercises are the following: Wrist extensor stretch The arm is placed in front with the hand pointing downward. Pull your hand towards your body to feel the stretch at the back of your wrist, forearm, and elbow. Your forearm can be rotated inwards to increase the stretch on the outside of your elbow. You can do this for 20 seconds and repeat up to 5 times. Partner tennis elbow stretches Your arm should be out to your side and rotated inwards and downwards. Flex your wrist to increase the stretch. This is more easily done with the help of a partner. Hold and stay in this position for 30 seconds and repeat it 5 times. Stretch this way at least 3 times per day. Neural stretch It is possible that the elbow pain you have been experiencing is caused by tension in your neck.

The signs and symptoms of tennis elbow develop gradually. It would start as mild pain and worsen as days and months pass. You may be bewildered initially because you may not remember any recent injury that may cause the pain. The pain or burning is felt 1 to 2 cm below the bony part (lateral epicondyle) on the outer part of the elbow and the grip weakens. You will find yourself unable to grip your racquet as hard as you used to. The pain is aggravated by holding a racquet, turning a wrench or shaking hands. Your dominant hand is usually worse off, but both hands could be afflicted. Location of pain in lateral epicondylitis Tennis Elbow Diagnosis Clinical history and physical examinations Your clinical history plays a great role in arriving at the right diagnosis. You should describe in detail the pain that you have been experiencing. You must tell your doctor where the pain is, how it developed when it occurs, what aggravates it, and which activities you can not perform. The doctor will also ask for your occupation, which sports you play, and possible injury causing activities. In addition, he or she will ask about your previous diseases, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis and your previous hospitalizations.

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis or extensor tendinopathy, is a painful medical condition caused by overuse of your forearm. Pain is most commonly felt in the elbow region. Lateral epicondylitis is nicknamed tennis elbow because it is often found in those who play tennis or any other racquet sports. However, there are still other activities that can cause tennis elbow. In tennis elbow, the tendons that join the forearm muscles at the outside of your elbow are inflamed due to repeated motions of the forearm. They are inflamed because the forearm muscles and the tendons connecting them to your bones are either injured or damaged. This will cause you to experience pain and tenderness at the outside of your elbow. Tennis elbow can either develop very suddenly (acutely) or over a period of days or weeks (chronically) in a gradual manner. There are many treatment options for tennis elbow. In most cases, the treatment is carried out through a multidisciplinary approach. Primary doctors, physical therapists, surgeons, and pain doctors work hand in hand to provide you with the most effective care and management. Causes of Tennis Elbow Playing tennis The ECRB muscle is responsible for stabilizing your wrist when your elbow is in a straight position.