What Is Tennis Elbow? and What Causes It?

Tennis elbow (technically known as lateral epicondylitis) is a form of tendonitis that results from inflammation and small tears in the tendon connecting your elbow joint to your forearm muscles. Tennis elbow pain is typically felt at the outer elbow and along the forearm, with symptoms that become more pronounced when the affected tendons and muscles are activated (by raising or straightening your wrist and hand, for example). Fortunately, it’s a condition that is relatively easy to remedy, with non-invasive tennis elbow treatment options that relieve pain and repair injury. 

Signs & Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

The most common signs and symptoms of tennis elbow include:

• Weakness and pain typically affecting one arm but can affect both arms, depending on the aggravating activity (e.g., weightlifting where wrists and forearms and subjected to repetitive strain from pulling and weight-bearing movements).  
• Aching or burning pain that typically starts at the bony prominence of your outer elbow
• Pain can sometimes extend from your outer elbow up through your forearm to the back of your hand.
• Pain can worsen at night or when using the affected arm to hold tools, weights, or other sports equipment. 
• Sudden or worsening grip strength. 
• Pain or discomfort when shaking hands, gripping items, turning doorknobs, holding a hammer or coffee mug, or lifting and straightening your wrist.

Tennis Elbow Risks & Contributing Factors 

The common name used to describe lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) can be deceiving. While it is a common condition amongst athletes, anyone can suffer from tennis elbow, especially if your occupation or recreational activities involve repetitive lifting and extension of the hand or bending of the elbow. 

A few examples of activities and contributing factors that can cause tennis elbow include:

• Age: most commonly experienced by adults between the age of 30-50
• Racquet sports (tennis, badminton, squash, ping-pong)
• Lacrosse
• Weightlifting/Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit 
• Typing
• Using wrenches, hammers, and other tools (plumbers, construction workers, mechanics, stonemasons, painters)
• Laser technicians
• Chefs, butchers, and line cooks
• Violin playing
• Golfing

In rare cases, tennis elbow pain can occur without any apparent cause. Regardless of the cause, discomfort indicates that it’s time to seek tennis elbow treatment before the condition progresses.  

Effective Tennis Elbow Treatment in Victoria, B.C.

In a significant majority of cases, the good news is that tennis elbow pain can be effectively resolved with non-invasive treatments. Effective tennis elbow treatment sometimes only requires physiotherapy, and in other cases, a tailored combination of targeted therapies, including:

• Physiotherapy
• Kinesiology
• Shockwave Therapy
• Chiropractic Care
• Acupuncture
• Ultrasound
• Cold Laser
• eToims
• A holistic approach to treatment

Never Ignore Pain

Pain indicates that it’s time to seek treatment. Sudden or worsening pain or discomfort is your body’s way of telling you that something is amiss and requires correction. While most tennis elbow cases aren’t serious, subjecting the affected area to continual strain could result in nerve compression and significant damage to muscles and tendons requiring surgery if left unaddressed. 

Because various contributing factors can cause conditions such as tennis elbow, we take a comprehensive approach to providing tennis elbow treatment at Diversified Health Clinic. The first step is to book an appointment with one of our physiotherapists. When we meet with you, we’ll start with a thorough initial consultation and assessment before tailoring a treatment plan for you that relieves pain while specifically addressing your condition. We’ll also show you specific stretches and exercises you can continue at home to aid your recovery and maintain your results. Our goal is to help you return the activities you love and enjoy without the interference of pain or risk of injury. 

Things You Can Do to Help Prevent Tennis Elbow Before and After Tennis Elbow Treatment

• Rest: after assessing your condition, our physiotherapist will be able to recommend how much rest your affected elbow needs before returning to your usual activities. 
• Correction: our physiotherapist and kinesiologist will assess your postural and movement patterns and correct any dynamics that contributed to your pain and condition.
• Stretching and Conditioning: Treating and preventing the recurrence of joint, tendon, nerve, and muscle pain often includes stretches and exercises that strengthen stabilizing muscles to protect from further injury. 
• Support: In cases where strain cannot be avoided, wraps and sleeves may be recommended as part of your tennis elbow treatment plan. 
• Anti-inflammatories: While pain should never be ignored, in the interim, over the counter anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen may be taken to help temporarily relieve pain and reduce inflammation. 

If You Suffer From the Symptoms of Tennis Elbow:

Give our team of practitioners at Diversified Health Clinic a call today at (250) 382-0018 or book an appointment online. We’re happy to help answer your questions, address the cause of your pain and discomfort, and get you on the road to recovery.