Tennis elbow — it "conquers" even without playing tennis

The main cause of tennis elbow: overuse

Repetitive, strenuous physical work performed with the arm overloads the points where the tendons of the forearm muscles attach to the bone. Several types of problems can occur. Small tears can form in the tendon. Parts of the tendon can be torn away from the bone or the periosteum can be damaged. In these places inflammation develops. This is how tennis elbow arises — although it got its name from its frequent occurrence among tennis players, it certainly doesn't affect athletes only.

Anyone who frequently performs repetitive arm movements can develop it. It is common among carpenters, joiners, painters, butchers, for example. It can also be triggered by seemingly "harmless" activities, such as prolonged computer mouse use.

It often appears after spring yard work, following sudden strain after a long winter "rest" (digging, raking, pruning).

I have also seen a patient who developed it while caring for a bedridden relative. Pulling a heavy body into a sitting position, turning the person during washing, etc., places a great strain on the forearm muscles and thus on the tendon attachment points.

Symptoms of tennis elbow

The pain develops in the arm you use, the one you load more heavily.

• even grasping, lifting or holding a small, light object, and even a handshake, can cause very severe pain
• the pain on the outer side of the elbow increases with loading
• bending the wrist backward (extension of the hand and fingers) worsens the complaints
• the pain can be agonizing even at rest

Home treatment options for tennis elbow

One of the most important steps in treatment is offloading. If possible, stop the activity that causes the complaints (whether sport or work).

Many kinds of pain relievers, steroid and non-steroid medications, creams and patches are available. You should know that pain relievers generally do not have a curative effect; they only suppress symptoms, so it's worth seeking a solution that also acts on the inflammation and heals it.

For newly developing pain, start with cooling. Cooling straps with gel that conform to the joint are the most suitable. If you use ordinary ice, put a towel between the ice and the skin. Placing ice directly on the skin and leaving it there for half an hour can cause frostbite! The analgesic effect of cooling is strongest when the skin temperature drops by at least 15°C within 10–15 minutes.

If cooling does not eliminate your tennis elbow pain, you can choose from further physiotherapy treatments. Their effect develops slowly — after 7–10 days of treatment you can expect some pain relief. However, tennis elbow is an extremely stubborn "creature"; after 2–3 months of persistent treatment you may expect it to disappear completely. Sometimes it even takes longer. So if 10–15 days of treatment didn't make it go away, that does not mean the treatment is ineffective — it means this inflammation is very persistent.

Deep heat therapy

The simplest and probably cheapest method is deep heat therapy. Infrared rays warm the tissues, stimulate circulation and thus promote the removal of toxins and metabolites — speeding up the healing process. Do not use heat for a freshly appeared tennis elbow, but if you've been suffering for weeks, heat may already reduce the pain!

TENS treatment

The electrical impulses of TENS devices are used to relieve pain. Place one electrode about 3–5 cm above and one below the pain and treat that way. If your device has a modular TENS program, use it; if not, you can choose the conventional or endorphin programs. TENS is a symptomatic treatment — it relieves pain but does not affect healing.

Microcurrent treatment

Microcurrent treatment is performed similarly to TENS, with the difference that microcurrent not only relieves pain but also regenerates the membranes of diseased, inflamed cells and effectively heals them.

Ultrasound treatment

The ultrasound beam raises the temperature of the treated tissues, speeds up blood circulation and thus the healing process. Always use contact gel for ultrasound treatment. Move the applicator head slowly in circular motions over the painful area. Read this article of mine about ultrasound dosing.

Soft laser treatment

Aim the laser beam at the most painful point of the tennis elbow and hold it there until you deliver 5 Joules of energy to the painful area. Different power lasers require different treatment times — read the device's manual! The laser beam energy penetrates deep into the tissues and stimulates healing processes. It effectively reduces pain and inflammation.

Magnetotherapy

Pulsed magnetic field therapy generated by electric current is effective in any condition affecting a joint or tendon — including tennis elbow.
Attention: so-called static magnets that are not produced by electricity — bracelets, necklaces, straps, belts, etc. — have no medically proven effect.