Treatment for Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow, or medically known as Lateral Epicondylitis is a overuse injury whereby the attachment of the forearm muscle to the bone is inflammed/irritated.  Not to be mistaken, this injury is not solely for tennis players but even office workers without an assessed setup.

Most patients report discomfort that is either in or directly in front of the bony surface of the upper half of the elbow, with the pain typically radiating in the direction of the back part of their forearm. The discomfort can range from dull ache, fluctuating pain to severe, ongoing pain that may interfere with sleep. Usually, it is produced by lifting a mug, sleeping on your elbow or typing on a keyboard for long periods. 

Usually, range of motion is not inhibited and the individual should be able to move freely. In more advanced stages, motion may be uncomfortable. 

Symptomatic relief is typically achieved by rest, lifestyle modification, or avoiding uncomfortable activities. Another option is Osteopathy/physiotherapy to help relieve symptoms and receive a management plan for the issue. Stretching and strengthening regimens have been shown in certain trials to produce better effects at short-term follow-up than rest and reduced activity. It has not been determined that any standard regime is better than any other approach. 

Acupunture or dry-needling has demonstrated good outcomes on short-term follow-up

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be useful for the short-term relief of symptoms. Even if their use is superior to a placebo, no differences between oral and topical NSAIDs have been established.

The basic idea is to strengthen the muscle as near to its maximum as feasible without going overboard. Correct elbow function requires a stable shoulder and scapula, thus strengthening workouts for the scapular stabilisers—the lower trapezius, serratus anterior, and rotator cuff muscles—are essential and this can be an approach to rehabilitation to aid recovery progression.

The typical course of lateral elbow epicondylitis is between 12 and 18 months, and it often resolves on its own. Osteopathy/Physiotherapy, activity modification, and non-operative treatment are effective in alleviating symptoms for the majority of patients. Although a number of non-operative treatments have been suggested, none have proven to be better than the others, therefore no particular suggestions can be provided. Patients who have failed a well-executed non-operative programme and have chronic symptoms are the only ones who should receive surgical treatment.