Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a painful condition that occurs when tendons in your elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Despite its name, athletes aren’t the only people who develop tennis elbow.
Also to know is, 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.
Regarding this, how do you fix a tennis elbow injury?
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 can be mistaken for tennis elbow?
Other Conditions Mistaken for Tennis Elbow
- Medial epicondylitis, or golfer’s elbow, causes pain in the same area as tennis elbow. …
- Osteochondritis is a joint disease. …
- Arthritis can wear down the protective cartilage around the elbow.
How do I know if my elbow injury is serious?
Call your doctor right away if you have:
- Severe pain, swelling and bruising around the joint.
- Trouble moving your elbow normally, using your arm or turning your arm from palm up to palm down and vice versa.
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.
Why does tennis elbow hurt more at night?
Many people find that it hurts the worst first thing in the morning, because the muscles and tendons stiffen during sleep, when we’re relatively immobile and circulation drops. This overnight stiffening can exacerbate the pain once you get up and begin moving the arm.
Does heat help 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.
Can you lift with tennis elbow?
Repetitive lifting or motions: Exercises that rely on repetitive lifting or repetitive motions of your elbow and wrist can agitate your injury. When you’re working out in this condition, do as few repetitions as possible.
What exercises can you do for tennis elbow?
What exercises should I do if I have 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 rest for tennis elbow?
Home Treatment
- Rest your fingers, wrist, and forearm muscles to allow your tendon to heal. …
- As soon as you notice pain, use ice or cold packs for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, several times a day. …
- Wear a counterforce brace during activities that require grasping or twisting arm movements.