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Tennis
Elbow and Golfers Elbow
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1)
Elbow Pain
2) Tennis Elbow
3) (Lateral Epicondylitis)
4) Golfer's Elbow
5) (Medial Epicondylitis)
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Tennis
Elbow (inflammation of the muscles that insert into the epicondyle part of the
humerus) may occur after injury to this area.
This may be due to underlying weakness to those muscles, overuse, and sometimes
due to equipment (tennis racquet strings to tight).
Tennis Elbow is the popular term for inflammation of the lateral epicondyle
or insertion of the muscles that extend the wrist (whereas Golfer's Elbow is
inflammation of the flexor group that inserts at the medial (inside) epicondyle
of the elbow).
Tennis Elbow is more common than Golfer's Elbow in both Tennis players and Golfers.
Treatment
Rest is important to prevent aggravation. Ice is useful to decrease pain and
swelling especially in the first 72 hours.
Heat may be applied after 72 hours. Both should be applied no more than 15-20
minutes per setting. Stretching the inflamed area helps. Athletic
Therapists and Physiotherapists will give flexibility and
strengthening
programs. This is the most important treatment, as this will also prevent the
return of more problems.
Medication
Anti-inflammatories are the drug of choice decreasing both inflammation and
pain.
Braces
A proper fitting tennis elbow brace is useful in unloading the insertion of
the muscles at the epicondyles, allowing activity while permitting a relative
rest at the elbow.
Cortisone Injections - are useful in delivering a strong anti-inflammatory
effect at the site of epicondylitis. Surgery is rarely needed but occasionally
used for the most severe cases.
Technique
Attending a tennis or golf pro clinic can help correct mistakes that predispose
people to develop epicondylitis.
Proper racquet and good golf club grips (graphite clubs are high quality) can
also decrease unnecessary forces across the elbow.
For your reference
a downloadable version of this text can be found at these links.
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