For many weekend athletes, tennis elbow can be an annoying and sometimes debilitating condition. You may feel it when you hit a backhand late, or it may pop up several days after a match.
 | Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the tendons that are attached to the outer part of the elbow. Symptoms most often include pain on the outer part of the elbow that may travel down the entire forearm. It may be tender if you hit it against something; in severe cases, it may even hurt when you're not doing anything. |
| Tennis elbow is most frequently seen in people ages 30-60 and is most commonly associated with tennis playing, although other activities can cause it.
So how do you treat it? Here are some things you can try: |
Step 1: Rest
Do you remember this old joke? Patient: "It hurts when I do this." Doctor: "Well, don't do that." Tennis elbow is a repetitive injury caused by overuse. Your tendons need rest, so don't do anything to aggravate it - especially playing tennis. Some mild cases may last a few weeks, but more chronic conditions may last more than a year. Refrain from playing until you're sure the pain has gone away.
Step 2: Reduce The Inflammation
Applying ice compresses to your elbow or taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen or aspirin can help reduce swelling and inflammation that often accompanies the injury.
Step 3: See Your Doctor
For more severe cases, your doctor may be able to prescribe other treatments, including splints and corticosteroid treatments to relieve inflammation. Surgery is a last option but may be necessary if the injury does not respond to other treatments.
Step 4: Try Physical Therapy
Your doctor may refer you to a physical therapist who can show you exercises that are designed to stretch and strengthen the muscles of the arm, which may help relieve the stress on the tendons.
Step 5: Seek Alternate Treatments
Ultrasound, massage therapy and even acupuncture may help relieve symptoms and reduce inflammation.
Step 6: Prevent It From Happening Again
Once you're able to play tennis again, take a long hard look at your technique. Tennis elbow is usually caused by an improper backhand swing. You may be using too much wrist, which can put too much stress on the tendons. A tennis instructor can teach you how to swing with your whole arm and torso behind the racket with as little arm movement as possible, which helps absorb the shock.
