Tennis elbow is a condition in which the elbow is inflamed and painful. And, despite its name, it does not only affect tennis players. Any overuse of the elbow can cause tennis elbow. Tennis is a typical example, but it can also encompass painting, cooking, and other activities.
Any motion involving the hand, wrist, or forearm causes the muscles on the outside of the elbow to pull on the bone where they attach. This results in a feeling of discomfort, pain, or tension. Wearing a tennis elbow brace can often help to ease these problems. An elbow brace can be worn near the hand, past the elbow joint. By bringing the point of strain closer to the wrist, the brace helps to relieve pain. This prevents the stress from being concentrated in one spot, which can help to alleviate some of the pain and discomfort around your elbow.
Elbow braces and elbow straps are widely available. If you and your primary care provider or physical therapist decide that an elbow brace is best for you, you’ll have a lot of alternatives.
Causes
Tennis elbow is a condition that usually develops over time. Repetitive activities, such as grasping a racquet during a swing can place undue strain on the muscles and tendons. The continual straining on the tissue can eventually produce microscopic tears.
Sports such as Tennis, Racquetball, Squash, Fencing, Weight-lifting, etc., cause tennis elbow.
It can also affect those who have jobs or hobbies that demand them to grip or move their arms repeatedly, such as carpentry, typing, knitting, raking, painting, etc.
Symptoms
The tennis elbow is characterized by discomfort and soreness in the bony knob outside the elbow. The damaged tendons attach to the bone through this knob. The pain could also spread to your upper or lower arm. Although the injury is to the elbow, you may likely experience pain when using your hands.
You may experience pain when lifting something, making a fist, grabbing something, like a tennis racquet, opening a door or shaking hands, raising your hand or straightening your wrist, etc.
Your doctor will do a thorough examination to determine the cause of your tennis elbow. They’ll have you flex your arm, wrist, and elbow to see where the pain is coming from. To diagnose tennis elbow or rule out other disorders, you may need imaging tests such as an X-ray or an MRI.
Treatment
Tennis elbow heals typically on its own, which is the good news regarding treatment. All you have to do now is rest your elbow and do whatever you can to hasten the healing process. Treatments that are beneficial include:
Icing the elbow to reduce swelling and pain Experts recommend taking it every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days, or until the pain is gone.
To protect the wounded tendon from further tension, use an elbow strap.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin are used to relieve pain and swelling. These medications, however, can have adverse side effects such as bleeding and ulceration. Unless your doctor advises differently, you should only use them on a limited basis because they may cause healing to be delayed.
To relieve stiffness and promote flexibility, perform range-of-motion exercises. Your doctor could advise you to do them three to five times per day.
Physical therapy is used to strengthen and stretch muscles.
Having steroid or painkiller injections relieve some of the swelling and pain surrounding the joint. Steroid injections, according to studies, do not help in the long run.
The majority of the time, these therapies will suffice. However, if you have a severe case of tennis elbow that does not respond to conservative treatment after two to four months, you may need surgery. The injured tendon segment is usually excised, and the remaining tendon is healed during the process. In roughly 85 percent to 90 percent of cases, surgery is effective.
Equipment used to Recover from Tennis Elbow
Some of the following suggestions may be beneficial to your recovery:
Braces: Wearing a supportive brace on your forearm may relieve some of the pressure on your elbow’s tendons. Consult your doctor or physical therapist to determine whether you should use a forearm brace and which type is best for you.
Splints: Speak with your doctor about wearing a wrist brace at night. This will allow your muscles and tendons to relax.
Sports Gear: If tennis is the cause of your tennis elbow, a stiffer racquet with looser strings may be beneficial until you’re ready to resume mild play. A few more pointers:
Improve your swing with the help of a tennis pro, so you don’t overwork your elbow again. Other racquet sports can benefit from the same concept.
Make sure your tennis balls are new and dry. Tennis balls that are wet or “dead” might irritate your elbow.
Finally, before engaging in racquet sports, make sure you warm-up and extend your arms gently (or any sport, really).
Work Tools: If on-the-job equipment is a factor, you may need to experiment with new tools or procedures. Seek advice from your physical therapist. Here are a couple more tool suggestions:
Hold tools with a looser grasp; if possible, relieve some of the tension in your hand.
To help absorb shock, use hammers with padding.
Obtain some instruction in various approaches to performing your profession.
If at all possible, use power tools instead of hand ones.
Things to Look for in a Tennis Elbow Brace
Strap Length or Size Sleeve
Because elbow braces are worn, you’ll want to think about the size when shopping. Pay attention to the entire strap length if you’re looking at an adjustable strap. Also, while buying a sleeve, pay attention to the sleeve size. Some braces provide a “maximum circumference” that you can use to figure out your size. This is the largest circumference of an arm that the brace can support.
Weight
Elbow braces are usually relatively light. Some are, however, heavier than others. So, when you buy a brace, double-check the weight to be sure you know what to expect.
Adjustable Fit
Many elbow braces have straps that can be used to alter the fit. This can assist you in making sure your brace is as tight or as slack as you want it to be, providing you with a more precise way to size it.
Recovering from Tennis Elbow
Of course, what you want to know is when you’ll be able to resume your normal activities after suffering from tennis elbow. That depends on your specific situation and the amount of the tendon injury. Various people heal at different speeds.
Don’t hasten your recovery in any way. If you push yourself too soon after your tennis elbow has healed, you risk aggravating the problem. When you’re ready to resume your previous level of activity, do the following:
It’s no longer unpleasant to grip objects or bear weight on your arm or elbow.
Your injured elbow feels much like the other one.
Your elbow isn’t swollen anymore.
The elbow can be flexed and moved without difficulty.
Methods to Prevent Tennis Elbow
Avoiding overuse is the key to preventing tennis elbow. If you experience any elbow pain while participating in an activity, you should stop.
Tennis elbow can also be caused by using incorrect equipment, such as a golf club or tennis racket that is excessively heavy or has a grip that is too large. Tennis elbow can also be caused by poor technique, such as swinging with improper posture. You should also consider:
Before engaging in any sport or activity that requires you to use your elbow or arm, stretch, and warm up.
After you’ve finished exercising, ice your elbow.
Tennis Elbow Brace Recommendation
Is your job requiring you to use your elbow? Is it anything that requires you to move your wrist and arm repeatedly? Don’t be concerned! The Senteq Elbow Brace will not prevent you from moving your arms in whatever direction you wish.
The Senteq Elbow Strap improves tendonitis in the forearms by increasing blood flow and promoting circulation, which helps to reduce inflammation and arthritis pain. Its dual-layer construction, inner GEL pad, and broad adjustable strap provide targeted compression that aids in recovering your forearm from injuries and tiredness while also protecting your tendons from further strain.
The strap is wide enough to help with inflammation and pain by distributing pressure. The soft inner wrap and dual-layer design keep you comfortable while giving optimal support. The inner gel pad provides targeted compression to reduce pain and aid in healing and preventing injuries.
It’s the one that lasts the longest. It will not readily wear out because of its durable Velcro strap and high-quality materials, no matter how long you use it. You can rely on the materials we chose for their quality and safety. Any skin response is no longer an issue.
Few Parting Words
Take good care of yourself and don’t let any activity or sport cause any injury to you. Please share your thoughts on this article with us. Hearing from our readers encourage us to bring more informational content to them.
