With the recent Wimbledon championship putting all things tennis on our minds, our Fareham chiropractor provides the lowdown on a condition most of us know as “Tennis Elbow”.
Medically known as Lateral Epicondylitis, Tennis Elbow refers to a condition that causes pain around the outside area of the elbow. As its name suggests, the condition typically develops following strenuous overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm.
According to our chiropractor, you may notice the following symptoms if you are suffering from Tennis Elbow:
- Pain on the outside of your upper forearm, just below the bend of your elbow
- Pain when lifting or bending your arm
- Pain when gripping small objects, such as a pencil
- Pain when twisting your forearm, such as turning a door handle or opening a jar
- Difficulty in extending your forearm
So what exactly causes Tennis Elbow to develop?
While it’s named after the overuse of muscles from playing tennis, the condition can be caused by many other activities that put excessive, repeated stress on the elbow joint. The elbow joint is surrounded by muscles that facilitate the movement of your elbow, wrist and fingers. Tendons in your elbow connect your bones and muscles which go on to control the muscles in your forearm. If these muscles and tendons are strained, small tears and inflammation can occur near the bony lump on the outside of your elbow.
How is Tennis Elbow treated?
Tennis elbow is a self-limiting condition, which means it will eventually get better without treatment. However, you should address the condition if it is causing you severe or worsening pain or if it’s getting in the way of your usual activities.
The first thing to do is rest your injured arm and stop doing the activity that’s causing the problem until your symptoms improve. Holding a cold compress at the site of pain for a few minutes, several times a day, can also help to ease the symptoms.
Contact a medical professional if the pain in your elbow persists, despite resting it for a few days.
Our experienced team of chiropractors at Homewood are here to help and advise you on all aspects to do with your back and joint pain.
For friendly advice or to book an appointment, contact us today on 01329 280 283 or email frontdesk@homewoodchiropractic.co.uk
Our Experience Counts: 55 Years in Fareham
Serving the people of Fareham, and surrounding areas of Southampton, Portsmouth, Hampshire and the local areas of Whiteley, Hedge End, Locks Heath & Portchester
