Five symptoms of tennis elbow that all players should know

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is an inflammation of the tendons that attach the muscles of the forearm to the outside of the elbow. Knowing the definition of tennis elbow will help you explain your condition to your health care provider and help you confuse tennis elbow with a condition that may be similar. If you are a tennis coach, expanding your knowledge of this common injury will help you identify the tennis elbow symptoms in your players.

Anatomy of the elbow

The elbow is an example of an articulated joint. An extensive network of ligaments helps the elbow joint maintain its stability. The ligaments of the elbow joint include the ulnar collateral, the radial collateral and the annular ligaments. Because many muscles originate or are inserted near the elbow, it is a common site for injuries.

A common joint joint injury is called lateral epicondylitis or "tennis elbow," which refers to the inflammation that surrounds the lateral (external) epicondyle of the humerus. The lateral epicondyle is the bone knob located on the outside of your elbow. Six muscles that control the backward movement (called extension) of the hand and the fingers are connected in the lateral epicondyle.

Repeated and energetic beating while contracting muscles, as with the backhand stroke in tennis, causes tension in the tendon muscles. This action can produce pain around the epicondyle. The rest of these muscles will generally cause the recovery of the painful symptoms of tennis elbow.

The symptoms of tennis elbow

The main symptoms of tennis elbow include pain and tenderness in the bony knob on the outside of your elbow. This knob (called epicondyl) is where the injured tendons connect to the bone. Pain can also radiate in the upper or lower arm. Although the damage is in the elbow, you are likely to feel pain when doing things with your hands.

Tennis elbow can cause more pain when:

Lift something with the injured arm.

Make a fist or grab an object, such as a tennis racket

Open a door or shake hands.

Lift your hand or straighten your wrist

Pain or burning in the outer bony part of the elbow with arm movements

The tennis elbow is similar to another condition called golfer's elbow, which affects the tendons inside the elbow and causes pain inside the elbow.

Diagnosis of tennis elbow

To diagnose your tennis elbow, your doctor will do a complete exam. He or she will want you to flex your arm, wrist and elbow to see where it hurts. You may also need imaging tests, such as an x-ray or MRI. This is where it is of the utmost importance that you consult a health care provider who is well versed in the care of elbow injuries. It is vital to have a specialist in elbows who is familiar with the latest treatments for your condition.

For more information on tennis elbow, visit Expert Joint Care here or contact us at 8657429909.

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