What Is Tennis Elbow?

Do not go by the name! It’s not that if you play tennis then only you will get a tennis elbow. It is a rheumatic disorder that is caused by the overuse of the forearm and arm muscles. In this, inflammation occurs at the elbow due to repetitive strain. As tennis players use these muscles more, they can get it very easily or you can say that every tennis player has a tennis elbow.

Mainly tennis elbow is caused by repeated use of forearm muscle that extends to wrist and fingers. Various activities like playing tennis or golf, repeated twisting and turning of the wrist while doing some work etc causes such condition. If swelling occurs at the elbow then it may be due to arthritis or gout.

Tennis elbow is more common in men than in women. It occurs in people between 30-50 years of age.

Symptoms of the tennis elbow include slowly increasing pain in the elbow. This pain becomes worst while shaking hands, squeezing something, pouring tea in a cup, turning the door handle or using a screw driver. Even the forearm cannot be fully extended.

Taking X-ray and doing some blood tests make diagnosis of the tennis elbow. Doctors can diagnose it by the description of the pain you give. It disappears within 3-6 weeks time period if proper treatment is taken.

Some simple things can be kept in mind to avoid tennis elbow. Avoid over working of your arm muscle. Take rest in between working. Lift the things properly without giving much stress to your forearm, do stretching exercises before starting your play. Important of all is don’t strain your arm muscle. When you start having pain, stop doing the particular thing that causes pain and take rest. Putting ice on the area also gives much relief.