Hey guys! Matt and Jordan here. We wanted to talk to you today about something that happens to a lot of athletes, especially those who are playing tennis, pickleball, or other sports using a racquet of some kind. These kinds of activities can lead to elbow pain, which can limit your ability to do the things you love to do. We wanted to give you some clues on how to best handle this when it comes up. There are several different types of elbow pain, but we wanted to talk specifically about pain on the outside of the elbow. We call this area the lateral epicondyle. We want to talk specifically about Tennis Elbow (or lateral epicondylitis).
How do I get Tennis Elbow?
- Overuse injury caused by repeated movements
- Muscles get “microtears” and have difficulty healing due to repetitive use
- Happens frequently in tennis, racquetball, golf, painting, playing a musical instrument, a job, or just overuse
How do I know if I have Tennis Elbow?
- Pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow
- Can make simple tasks like picking up a gallon of milk, or shaking hands, or repetitive motions that require the elbow very painful
- Occasional pain that radiates to the forearm and wrist
- Difficulty lifting or gripping objects
- Pain with twisting (doorknobs, lids, screwdriver, etc)
- Pain with sporting activities
- Stiffness and limited ROM
What Do You Do If You Have Tennis Elbow?
Well, you don’t want to wait to get treatment because this disorder can linger for a long time without proper care. As Doctors of Physical Therapy we are trained to help you properly identify this disorder and help you heal and get back to what you want to do! Using the proper tools, such as manual therapy, physical exercise, and proper loading of the injured tissues will help your body heal in the right way, so you can get back to doing all the things that you love to do!
Here at Aspen Ridge Physical Therapy, we are prepared to guide you through a personalized treatment plan based on your body, your goals, and your needs. We serve the Layton, Syracuse, Clearfield, and Clinton areas. Call us today with any questions or to set up an appointment. You can reach us at 801-773-1350 or by email at info@AspenRidgePhysicalTherapy.com.
