Tennis elbow will get better without treatment (known as a self-limiting condition). Tennis elbow usually lasts between 6 months and 2 years, with most people (90%) making a full recovery within a year. The most important thing to do is to rest your injured arm and stop doing the activity that caused the problem.
Correspondingly, what is the best treatment for tennis elbow?
Rest, ice, compression and elevation are the best treatment for tennis elbow, followed up with specific exercise and physical therapy. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) refers to an injury to the outer elbow tendon that occurs after strenuous overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, near the elbow joint.
- Don’t lie on the affected arm. …
- Don’t sleep with your arms overhead. …
- Use pillows to support the arm. …
- Wear a loose sleeve on the affected elbow. …
- Apply a heating pad before bed. …
- Try over-the-counter pain relievers.
Moreover, how long does it take tennis elbow to heal on its own?
You will probably feel better in a few weeks, but it may take 6 to 12 months for the tendon to heal. In some cases, the pain lasts for 2 years or longer. If your symptoms don’t improve after 6 to 8 weeks of home treatment, your doctor may suggest a shot of corticosteroid.
Should I wear tennis elbow brace overnight?
Use a brace while sleeping
By doing so, they help reduce pressure on the injured elbow tendons, and this can help reduce pain that’s keeping you up at night. These braces help keep the forearm muscles from contracting fully, and this can be helpful to your tennis elbow if you typically clench your fists at night.
Is Deep heat good for tennis elbow?
Heat is a solution to provide long-term healing and relief from the pain of tennis elbow. Applying heat to your tennis elbow promotes the flow of blood to this area. The heat relaxes and expands the muscles around your elbow and improves blood flow. Applying heat is recommended tennis elbow stretches and exercises.
Is massage good for tennis elbow?
Deep tissue massage to the forearm is a very effective method of easing tennis elbow and healing it much faster than rest alone. Deep tissue massage will enhance circulation and combining this with friction therapy to the tendons on the elbow joint, positive results are seen.
What exercises can I do with tennis elbow?
Exercises for Tennis Elbow
- FINGER STRETCH WITH RUBBER BAND. Place a rubber band around your thumb and fingers, and slightly cup your hand. …
- GRIP. …
- DOWNWARD WRIST STRETCH. …
- WRIST CURL (PALM UP, PALM DOWN) …
- ELBOW CURLS (PALM UP, PALM DOWN) …
- FOREARM PULL (OPTIONAL) …
- FOREARM TWIST (OPTIONAL)
How do you fix tennis elbow?
Treatment for Tennis Elbow
- Icing the elbow to reduce pain and swelling. …
- Using an elbow strap to protect the injured tendon from further strain.
- Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, to help with pain and swelling.
What is the best sleeping position for tennis elbow?
Sleeping with tennis elbow
To avoid putting strain on your elbow while recovering from tennis elbow, you should sleep on your back and try to keep your arms in a straighter, more natural relaxed position. It helps to prop up each arm on pillows on either side of you.
Does tennis elbow hurt all the time?
The most common symptom of tennis elbow is an ache on the outside of your elbow. Over time — from a few weeks to a few months — the ache turns into a constant pain.
Why does tennis elbow hurt so bad?
It’s caused by repetitive motion of the forearm muscles, which attach to the outside of your elbow. The muscles and tendons become sore from excessive strain. Symptoms include pain, burning, or an ache along the outside of the forearm and elbow.