What Is It?
Lateral elbow pain refers to pain felt on the outer edge of your elbow. This pain is often from an injury known as Lateral Epicondylitis, more commonly known as Tennis Elbow. This injury comes from repetitive use or over use of the common extensor tendon muscles in the forearm. Performing repetitive motions with the wrist in an extended position, such as gripping, can cause microtraumas in the tendon and pain. Tennis Elbow is seen in about 3% of the population with the most common occurrence in people ages 35-54 (Landesa-Piñeiro, 2022).
How Do We Fix It?
Rest and medication are often prescribed to treat Tennis Elbow. Though this may provide short term pain relief, it also correlates with a significantly higher recurrence rate. Physical therapy interventions have proven to be effective in reducing Tennis elbow pain, restoring range of motion, and increasing functionality at the elbow and hand with lower recurrence rates (Landesa-Piñeiro, 2019).
What Will Treatment Be Like?
A new study has analyzed the most effective treatments for Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylitis). The study shows that manual therapy and eccentric strength training have proven to provide the best functional outcomes in the treatment of Tennis Elbow (Landesa-Piñeiro, 2022). Along with the previously mentioned techniques, ultrasound, cryotherapy, bracing, and taping, have shown positive results and can be used in the treatment.
Where Do I Start?
Tennis Elbow frequently presents with symptoms of pain and/or burning sensations on the outside of the elbow, painful wrist extension, difficulty gripping or holding objects, and/or weakness of muscles in the hand.
If you are experiencing elbow pain that is consistent with these symptoms, contact the Respire PT Team today by phone at 703-671-1871 or click here to request an appointment with a Physical Therapist. Let us help you get back to the activities you love without being slowed down by elbow pain.
References
- Landesa-Piñeiro L, Leirós-Rodríguez R. Physiotherapy treatment of lateral epicondylitis: A systematic review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2022;35(3):463-477. doi: 10.3233/BMR-210053. PMID: 34397403.
Tags: lateral epicondylitis, physical therapist, pain free living, movementfreedom, evidenced based pt, choosept, pt education, elbow pain, arlingtonva, alexandriava, fallschurchva, ptworks, Physical Therapy, tennis elbow, Respire Physical Therapy
