We understand that tennis elbow can make everyday tasks painful and difficult. Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, causes pain on the outside of the elbow, usually from repetitive use of the arm. It can affect anyone—not just tennis players—and is common in people who do repetitive activities with their hands and arms.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow happens when the tendons in your elbow become irritated or inflamed. These tendons connect the muscles in your forearm to the outer part of your elbow. When you do a lot of repetitive motions, like gripping, twisting, or lifting, it can cause tiny tears in the tendons, leading to pain and discomfort.
While it’s most common in people who play tennis, it can affect anyone who does repeated activities, such as typing, painting, or lifting.
What Causes Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles, especially with movements that involve gripping or twisting. Some common causes include:
- Sports: Tennis, golf, or racquet sports that involve repetitive arm movements.
- Work: Jobs that require repeated motions, like construction, typing, or painting.
- Hobbies: Activities like gardening, lifting weights, or playing a musical instrument.
Even everyday activities—like carrying heavy bags or using a computer mouse—can cause tennis elbow if done too often.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
The main symptom of tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the elbow. The pain can feel sharp or burning and may get worse when you:
- Shake hands or grip objects
- Lift something (like a cup or grocery bag)
- Use a computer mouse or type for a long time
You may also feel weakness in your arm or tenderness when touching the elbow.
Treatment for Tennis Elbow
At Ramineni Hospital, we offer effective treatments to help you recover and relieve pain. Here are some options:
- Rest: Giving your elbow time to heal by avoiding activities that strain it.
- Ice: Applying ice to the elbow to reduce pain and swelling.
- Pain Relief: Over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen can help manage pain and inflammation.
- Physical Therapy: Exercises to strengthen and stretch the muscles in your forearm and elbow.
- Braces or Supports: Wearing a brace can help reduce stress on your elbow.
- Injections: In some cases, we may recommend a steroid injection to reduce inflammation.
- Surgery: If other treatments don’t help, surgery may be needed, but it’s only considered when necessary.
Preventing Tennis Elbow
To avoid tennis elbow in the future:
- Warm up and stretch before physical activities.
- Take breaks from repetitive movements.
- Use proper equipment and techniques in sports and work.
If you’re experiencing elbow pain, contact Ramineni Hospital to get the care and treatment you need. We’re here to help you heal and return to your normal activities.
