A Patient’s Guide to Tennis Elbow

Many of us, myself included, have lost some time from our hobbies over the last few years, however, the world seems to be returning to normal, and that means getting back to regular life. As a physiotherapist, I have been hearing this story a lot recently, clients are returning to tennis, hockey, or running and they are experiencing discomfort or restrictions they aren’t used to feeling. Unfortunately, while the world seemed to be held still over the last couple of years, so have our bodies. Without exercising our bodies regularly, we can lose strength, flexibility, and tolerance to activity. This creates a perfect recipe for an overuse injury. Today we are going to be discussing Lateral Epicondylitis, more commonly known as Tennis Elbow.

Tennis elbow is a common issue that can affect those that enjoy racket sports but also affects those who play hockey, rock climbing, or even just repetitive typing. Typically, individuals will experience pain that occurs on the outside of their elbow, it can be tender to touch and occasionally uncomfortable to stretch. This presentation is usually the result of an overload of the common extensor tendon insertion into the lateral epicondyle ( see below)

Tennis elbow can be very difficult to manage, and once it is aggravated it can be challenging to get it to calm down. If you are experiencing this condition, it is generally a good idea to get it assessed and have a treatment program developed with a physiotherapist. Typically, Tennis elbow will benefit from an active exercise approach to improve the strength of the tissue in that area. Research has shown that the following interventions can be of benefit:

• Exercise therapy has been shown to have positive benefits, and clinicians may generally prescribe isometric, concentric, or eccentric exercises to assist in managing symptoms and improving the function of the extensor muscle group.
• Manual therapy, including mobilization and manipulation, has been shown to be effective in the reduction of painful symptoms and improve pain-free grip strength.
• Dry needling has been shown to assist with pain and functional restrictions associated with tennis elbow.
• The use of rigid taping can assist in providing immediate and short-term pain relief.

This is not an exhaustive list of options by any means, just a few evidence-based treatment options that are typical of a physiotherapy program. Everyone responds to treatment differently and what will work for one person may not work for another, so everyone’s treatment program will typically be tailored that an individual’s presentation and what they respond well to.

If you’re starting to notice some discomfort when you’re getting back into your favorite activity, it’s a good idea to have an assessment completed. Your goals are our goals, our focus is to keep you moving,