I would wager that a lot of us have heard of tennis elbow but aren’t necessarily familiar with what it entails, unless of course we have personally experienced the condition. I wasn’t sure of what tennis elbow was until my dad told me I likely have it in my left elbow, and so after doing a little bit of research, I thought I would offer an explanation of what it is and how to treat it.
Tennis elbow “is a painful condition that occurs when tendons in your elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Despite its name, athletes aren’t the only people who develop tennis elbow. People whose jobs feature the types of motions that can lead to tennis elbow include plumbers, painters, carpenters and butchers,” explains mayoclinic.org. “The pain of tennis elbow occurs primarily where the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to a bony bump on the outside of your elbow. Pain can also spread into your forearm and wrist.”
Essentially, tennis elbow is caused by an overuse of the muscles and tendons in the elbow.
So, how do you treat it?
Luckily, tennis elbow normally improves on its own, but there are instances in which physical therapy may be required. Rest, ice, and pain killers will be your best friend if you’re dealing with tennis elbow, and it is key to avoid re-injuring or straining the injury. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to remove damaged tissue from the arm.
While tennis elbow isn’t necessarily a serious condition, if left untreated, it could result in more serious problems. If you suspect you may have tennis elbow, consult your physician to determine how to best approach and treat the injury. It isn’t exactly a pleasant sensation, but it is far more common than we may realize.
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