Tennis elbow is one of the most common injuries sustained in racquet sports. And, despite it’s name, is also common amongst tradespeople and computer users.

Rather than being caused by tennis it is the “gripping” of the racquet, operation of tools, or typing, that predisposes you to elbow pain.

You’ll find that “tennis elbow’ is an old name that refers to the medical diagnosis of lateral epicondylalgia (painful outside of the elbow).

Basically, tennis elbow is an overuse strain injury of the forearm muscles where they attach to the elbow.

However, pain to this area is commonly caused by entrapped nerves in your neck or along its path through the arm.

You could think of tennis elbow sometimes being a “sciatica of your arm”.

How Does Tennis Elbow Progress?

The onset of symptoms can be either instantaneous or slow and gradual.

Usually in the early stages it will cause no pain during sport but will ache and be tender after cooling down or the next day.

In more advanced cases, it will restrict playing altogether causing reduced power and grip strength and will even be sore doing simple things like pouring a jug or lifting a saucepan.

What to do?

It seems pretty pointless having an elbow injection when the problem is being caused by your neck!

Why is Your Shoulder Blade Important?

Visualise that your arm is a crane boom and your shoulder blade is its stable base. As the boom moves, it requires a stable base to ensure that the boom doesn’t topple, tip or run into things.

However, in a high percentage of elbow (and shoulder) pain patients, we find that the shoulder blade does not provide a stable enough base.

It makes sense that in addition to strengthening your arm muscles, your shoulder blade should also be controlled via its stabilising muscles. And YES... it can be done quite quickly and easily.

Should You Do Elbow Exercises Too?

While your shoulder blade and upper back strength are vital in the successful treatment of tennis elbow pain, your physiotherapist will also probably commence you on a program of eccentric strengthening, neurodynamics exercises, stretches, massage and possibly dry needling.

These exercises and hands-on techniques are designed to allow full muscle and nerve movement plus strengthen your local tendon and muscle structures.

What about Neck Treatment?

We find that the longer that you have suffered elbow pain the more likely that your neck or upper back joints become involved. It is thought that this is due to compensating for additional stress and strain.

Are there Other Options?

A tennis elbow strap or kinesiology taping can help to reduce the load on the tendon insertion and allow continuation of sport.

Persistent tennis elbow cases sometimes respond well to cortisone injection in the short-term.

Surgery is a last resort but unfortunately it does not have great results.

More Information about Tennis Elbow...