What is Tennis Elbow
‘Tennis Elbow’ is the name for the common elbow condition, lateral epicondylitis. It is an overuse injury that causes inflammation of the tendons that attach to the outside of the elbow, and is most commonly caused by poor desk ergonomics and not tennis! It is an inflammation of the tendons on the outside of the elbow.
These muscles are the extensor muscles of the wrist, and they all join a common tendon that attaches to the outside of the elbow. This attachment point at the elbow is called the lateral epicondyle, and thus the medical term for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis (meaning inflammation of the epicondyle).
Tennis elbow can cause pain on the outside tip of the elbow, pain with carrying shopping bags, or handling weights at the gym, and the pain may even radiate down the arms towards the wrist. It is primarily associated with overuse of the extensor muscles, resulting in pain and inflammation at the attachment point into the elbow, as the tendon becomes overloaded with time. While the name suggests it is common in tennis players, we most commonly see it in desk users with a poor ergonomic setup, or gym users who do not stabilise the wrists adequately.
Treatment needs to identify the source of the low-grade overload. Often it is not obvious and may require some prolonged digging into desk postures and gym routines, but finding the cause is the most important factor. Treatment often includes manual therapy to unload the elbow, taping, dry needling, and a progressive strengthening program to rebuild the elbow tendon strength.
Your physiotherapist will do a full subjective and objective assessment considering a wide range of factors including potential referred pain from the neck or upper arm, sporting technique, desk set up or postural issues, sporting technique, strength and range of movement.
City Physio & Sports Injury Centre has been providing musculoskeletal physiotherapy in the MLC Centre for over 30 years. Our team are expertly trained in providing detailed full-body assessments and delivering personalised treatment for musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, headaches, neck and back pain. Book your appointment online here