Treatment of Tennis Elbow

Lateral Epicondylitis

• First described by Lunge in 1873, 1 year before the invention of Tennis by Wingfield
• Commonest cause of elbow pain
• Only 5% actually occur in Tennis players

Sport Specific Biomechanics

• Tennis or racquet sports
  • Most often are exacerbated during the backhand stroke
• Grip size
  • Too large, or more commonly too small
  • Cause muscle imbalance and greater stress on the wrist and elbow
• Repetitive motion with improper technique or with equipment with less than optimal grip size

Signs & Symptoms

• Tenderness on resisted contraction
  • Wrist extensors
• Tenderness on palpation

Treatment

• Rest the joint
• Pain Killers
  • Short term benefit from oral NSAIDS
  • Topical NSAIDS better than placebo
    • Cochrane review
• H & L
  • Injections more effective than oral NSAIDS in the short term
    • Cochrane review

Surgery

• 90-95% of patients respond to conservative measures and do not require surgical intervention
• Many different techniques described
• Release of tendon from lateral epicondyle (elbow attachment)

Arthroscopic Release

• Minimally invasive
• Allows early rehabilitation and return to normal activities
• Addresses associated intra-articular pathology e.g. plica

Please note that the information contained herein is for general medical information only.
If you have any specific medical condition or queries, please consult your medical doctor.

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