5 things to know about tennis elbow

Tennis elbow, also known as golfer's elbow and elbow tendinitis, is an injury of the forearm muscles, which are located around the elbow. Here is what you need to know about it.

• Tennis elbow happens when the muscles and tendons of the forearm and hand become overworked.
• Some individuals are more susceptible to tennis elbow than others due to genetics and poor physical shape.
• The condition may also be brought on due to the aging process, since it usually presents itself when a person reaches their 40s.

• Symptoms of tennis elbow include pain that radiates in the forearm and the hands, pain in the elbow and weakness in the elbow and forearm. The type of symptomatic pain can range from sharp tingling to dull soreness.

• Standard treatment for tennis elbow includes icing the area twice a day for no longer than 15 minutes a session to reduce inflammation and swelling.
• Also, over-the-counter medication, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen is recommended to reduce pain caused by inflammation and trauma.
• If the condition is not getting any better with home care, or if the condition is getting worse the individual with tennis elbow should consult the advice of a licensed physician to receive supervised medical treatment.
• The physician will diagnosis tennis elbow based on a physical examination and the patient's description of their pain. The doctor may prescribe cortisone injections to ease inflammation and swelling and might also recommend wearing a brace to restrict movement of the injured area.
• There are also alternative therapies available for the treatment of tennis elbow, such as physical therapy, which involves special exercises to strengthen the weakened muscles of the forearms and hands, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy involves focused, single-pressure pulses used to heal injuries located in the soft tissues of the body. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, extracorporeal shock wave therapy is an acceptable treatment for tennis elbow due to its ability to relieve pain and restore function and strength to the injured site.

• Tennis elbow can be prevented by strengthening the muscles of the forearm, staying in decent physical shape and by using proper technique while playing sports.

• Keep in mind that tendons of the forearm can take up to one year to heal. Also, if tennis elbow is left untreated, a person can develop chronic pain.