Tennis Elbow – what can you do?
At Blackberry Clinic we assess and treat musculoskeletal conditions affecting joints, muscles, and the back. A common elbow condition is tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis.
What is it?
Tennis elbow is a painful condition affecting the tendons of the elbow often due to overloading/overuse from repetitive actions. The condition mostly affects people between 35-55yrs old and 95% of tennis elbow occurs in non-tennis players.
What are the common signs and symptoms?
– Insidious onset
– Pain and tenderness on the lateral elbow and forearm muscles
– Pain when gripping/during use of forearm
– Pain on stretching of extensor forearm muscles
– Aching lateral elbow pain after use
– Morning stiffness
– Weakness may be felt on the grip of the effected arm
How can it be treated?
Physiotherapy is the first line treatment for the conservative management of tennis elbow. The physiotherapists at Blackberry clinic will perform a thorough examination, assessment, and treatment of your elbow condition and if diagnosed with tennis elbow the treatment may involve the following:
– Load management specific to your condition, fitness, and activities of daily living. Off-loading the tendon correctly is vital in the beginning phase of your rehabilitation.
– Optimising your movement and biomechanics, this includes biomechanics assessment of the shoulder and scapula control. Optimising the shoulder movement assists the elbow rehabilitation and reduce risk of recurrence.
– Eccentric strengthening exercises for the extensor muscles of the forearm
– Manual therapy to assist in the flexibility and mobility of the forearm muscles and aid recovery.
– Taping or strapping to help offload the tendon affected to reduce load placed on the tendon.
– Advice and education to help reduce inflammation.
GET IN TOUCH!
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, contact your nearest Blackberry Clinic for a full assessment with one of our Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Chiropractors or Sports and Exercise Medicine Doctors. Let’s get your rehabilitation started.
The Blackberry team of Musculoskeletal Sports and Exercise Medicine Doctors and Physiotherapists will determine the appropriate treatment, of which physiotherapy is generally the first line treatment with steroid or PRP or autologous blood injections, imaging and referrals for surgery also offered at Blackberry clinic.
