Tennis Elbow
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow, scientifically known as lateral epicondylitis, refers to an injury on the outer part of the elbow of a patient from any age group between 35-50. The injury causes inflammation on the outer part of the elbow, and hence, it becomes very difficult for the patient to bear the pain caused by it.
In this condition, tendons between forearm muscles and arm bone of elbow joint get tear of, causing inflammation in the joint. Looking at the name of the injury, one can find that it is connected to the players who play tennis, though; it is very commonly found in any person of middle age group. Scientific evidence shows overuse of the elbow joint and playing tennis are some of the main reasons behind the injury.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
As the name suggests, lateral epicondylitis, the injury causes pain on the lateral or outer part of elbow. Pain increases in the joint when a person grips or lifts some object. Other than this, when a person tries to extend his wrist, the intensity of pain become high. The injury causes tenderness on the outer part of elbow and some stiffness in the forearm of the patient. Mainly, it occurs on the dominant working arm of a person, according to the usage, and is prone to affect men and women equally. People who are involved in work requiring activities to be done by hands like gardeners, plumbers, constructors, etc. and sportsperson have great risk of falling for this injury.
With this, the injured person might feel some discomfort in extending or stretching his arm. And according to the condition of the injury, the occurrence of pain can be gradual or sudden lasting for minimum 6 to 12 hours to several years.
Diagnosis of Tennis Elbow
Basically, injuries in tennis elbow are easily detected by examining the physical surface of the body. By examining the inflammation on the lateral surface of elbow one can easily detect whether there is some tennis elbow injury happened or not. Cozen test, meaning strectching and extending wrist and elbow, helps in detecting tennis elbow.Also, recurrent pain in the elbow by pressing the elbow suggests the presence of the injury.
If their some confusion reamins persistent then, the doctor can recommend for x-ray examination, radiography and MRI.
Causes of Tennis Elbow
There are no specific evidence regarding the actual reasons behind tennis elbow, but, overuse of and overstrain on the wrist tendons by bending the wrist are considered as some of the major factors for it. Poor handling of racquet by a tennis player by not applying right backhand technique are considered as main reasons behind the tearing of the tendons on the wrist. The right posture to play using backhand demands keeping the wrist firm and strong so that the force applied by the ball got spread over the whole arm and not just on the wrist. Also, the player should take raquet of right gripping handle so that the grip they made is neither too small or big leading to structural change of the tendons on the wrist.
Other than players who play with raquet, labors who lay bricks in the construction of a building and computer users who types a lot are prone to get this injury because their work require repeated bending of wrist.
Incomplete healing leading to incomplete supply of nutrition and oxygen in the wrist is also considered among the various causes behind the injury. Without proper healing and nutrition the tendons can become degenerative leading to the high-level risk of their tearing and wearing out.
Treatment of Tennis Elbow
Treatment given to cure tennis elbow basically depends on its level of severity.
Firstly, to reduce the pain caused by the injury some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), like ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin are given to the patient.
Secondly, for immediate releive from inflammation the injury should be treated by giving ice and heat pack.
With this, to limit pain and to reduce strain of the injury the patient can wear tennis-elbow straps available in the market.
The above treatment are very basic and are mandatory for any-level of 
tennis elbow injury happened to a person.
In the case of severe injury one can go for high-level treatments recommended by the doctor or the therapist. High-level treatment include dose of cortisone injection to reduce pain, application of pulsed ultrasound rays that fasten up the process of healing by breaking up ruptured tissues and increasing blood flow in the injured region, application of shock wave therapy, sclerotherapy, or dose of botulium toxins.
Scientifically it is a proven fact the various laser therapies can help in stimulating the injured tissues of the body, and thus, can help in quick recovery process.
Accupunture and trigger point therapies are applicable if the injury retain for a long period.
With all these treatments, one should always do proper rest so that the injury get fully healed up, because incomplete healing can only lead to surgeries, which no body actually wants to have.
Living With Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is what none of the tennis or badminton player want to have it in his career. The injury is not just very painful but is also very difficult recover from. So to avoid surgeries and all, one has to prevent himself from getting this injury or taking it to the severe stage.
Avoid practicing poor backhand technique and try for forehand, only and only, when the injury gets fully healed up.
Try to practice some rules in your life like:
If you ever face any symptom of tennis elbow go for good consultation by a doctor and therapist, unless, it become very critical for you to recover from it.
A sportsperson should always use sports accessories and equipments according to his/her weight, size, stamina, and ability. He should be comfortable in handling the accessories he is playing with. This will help in reducing the stress and strain caused by the extra weight of the sport accessories and thus, will help in reducing the chances of injuries like tennis elbow.
Always wear arm band in case of slight injury in the wrist. This will support your injured wrist and help in reducing the pain occurring in it.
Prevention of Tennis Elbow
The best way of dealing with tennis elbow is to practice prevention from it in your lifestyle. Prevention is recommended by looking at the long recovery rate it takes and for a good career in sports one have realize its importance.
Stretches and exercises: In case of mild injury, try to do stretching and muscle strengthening exercises regularly to strengthen the injured muscles. One can do exercises by using weights, depending on the injury and stamina he has, to further strengthen his free grip and forearm.
Tennis and badminton players are usually advised by their instructor and physiotherapist to strengthen their shoulder muscles, scapulothoracic, and abdominal muscles. Strenghtened muscles will help player in fighting against any strain and compression happeninng to the wrist and theforearm.
Wearing armbands and tennis-elbow straps will definetly help a sportsperson in dealing with pain and irritation caused by the injury. The straps will help in distributing the whole force and load of the ball all over the arm, and thus, will help in preventing from the injury.
Take full rest and go for massage. Massage will warm up the body and hence will help in reducing the stiffness of tissues residing in the injured region.
Right posture and right selection of racquet:
Every tennis player needs to know right posture and stroke mechanic to hit the ball properly and correctly. Incorrect posture forces additional stress and strain over the wrist muscles and, hence, lead to injuries in the elbow. So, always take proper guidance of your instructor and practice right stroke mechanics.
Racquet with right grip is the basic and foremost necessity to play tennis and badminton. The grip of the racquet must be of right size so the gripping made by the player is of right posture. Finally, the weight of the racquet should be less to make it more comfortable to handle.
Other than sportsperson any one who do work involving the higher usage of elbow should practice certain rule in his life like, while, doing repeated activities involving elbow take care of the fact that you are not stressing out your elbow very much. Try to lift object by your palm facing your face, this will help in the redistribution and realignment of the object’s weight on the whole arm.
