Loosening your grip –TreatingTennis Elbow
The time I spend on the tennis court is primarily chasing balls. I don’t have much time to practice my backhand, so I’m sure I’m not in any danger of developing tennis elbow. Chasing balls makes for a good cardio workout – just not a very good game of tennis. I won’t be saving any match points anytime soon. But tennis elbow is a condition that can be caused by any repetitious action of the forearm. Watching for the signs of tennis elbow is also a good idea during leaf raking season.
Signs and Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
• Pain that radiates from the outside of your elbow into the forearm and wrist
• Weak grip
• Painful grip during some activities like shaking hands or turning a doorknob
• Pain when the wrist is extended
• Pain when the elbow touches or bumps something
• Tenderness and swelling around the elbow
Over weeks and/or months, the pain often gets worse. The elbow may be sore even when it is still.
Causes of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) occurs when the elbow is used to perform a repetitive movement like the ‘backhand’ in tennis. The repeated contraction of the forearm muscles used to straighten and raise your hand and wrist causes stress and tension to the tissue. Inflammation or tiny tears in the tendons that attach the muscle to the bone in the forearm is the result. Activities like playing tennis, as the name suggests, using a screwdriver or hammer, weaving, painting, raking, etc. are all common causes of tennis elbow.
Home Remedies for Tennis Elbow
The best remedy for an already affected elbow is rest. If it’s from playing tennis or another game, abstain from playing that sport for up to three weeks while symptoms persist.
Ice the elbow for swelling and inflammation every couple of hours for 10-15 minutes at a time, not more than four times a day. If possible, you can also alternate between applying a heating pad and ice, 15 minutes at a time. The ice will aid in reduction of swelling and the heating pad will help promote blood flow to the area.
Zostrix, an over-the-counter topical pain-reliever commonly used for shingles, will work well as a temporary anesthetic. The topical ointment is made from a derivative of hot peppers and works by phasing out the pain at the site. However, it doesn’t do anything to reduce the swelling.
-Anne
Do you have any home remedies for tennis elbow? Comment and share them with us!
