The Australian Open in full swing, let’s talk Tennis Elbow!
Also known as lateral epicondylitis, it is one of the most common overuse injuries. The pain is felt on the outside of the elbow and presents as sharp pain along with loss of grip strength and pain with twisting actions such as opening a jar. It occurs when the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the outside of your elbow get damaged by repeated strain. The tendons become swollen and irritated which leads to pain.
You don’t have to be a tennis player to get the dreaded Tennis Elbow. You can also get it from other activities that involve a lot of wrist movement such as typing, painting or using power tools.
What you can do:
- Give your elbow a break. Wear a counterforce brace around your forearm to take some pressure off the injured tendon and let it heal. You can find these braces at most pharmacies or online.
- Strengthen your muscles to improve blood flow. You can use a towel to squeeze, wring and twist. You can also do eccentric loading exercises.
- Stretch your arms. Stretching can help prevent stiffness and reduce inflammation. You can stretch your forearms by bending and straightening your elbow and rotating your wrist.
- Consult an Osteopath for diagnosis and treatment. An Osteopath can use manual therapy such as massage and dry needling to relieve your pain and restore function.