Tennis Elbow
Get the Support You Need From This Elite Team
Many sports place considerable strain on the joints of participating athletes, especially those requiring regular swinging and throwing. The elbow is especially vulnerable to this type of stress and injury.
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a very common injury—not just to tennis players, as the name suggests, but to individuals who take part in activities involving repetitive motions. Athletes participating in racquet sports are common sufferers of tennis elbow, as are painters, plumbers, construction workers, cooks and computer technicians. Specifically, the injury is a tear or partial tear to the area where forearm tendons and muscles attach to the outside of the elbow.
Prevention
Reduce your risk.
The best way to prevent tennis elbow is to stretch and strengthen your arm muscles so that they are flexible and strong enough for your activities. Other ways to prevent tennis elbow include:● Staying in good overall physical shape● Using the correct techniques and movements during activities● Not overusing your arm with repeated movements that can injure your tendon (i.e., alternate hands during activities, if possible)● Wearing a brace, based on your doctor’s recommendation, during activities that require grasping or twisting arm movements
Symptoms
Pinpoint your pain.
Symptoms of tennis elbow include inflammation, gradually increasing pain on the outside of the upper arm, and worsening of pain while squeezing objects.
If you experience any of these symptoms, you can contact our highly trained team of orthopaedic professionals for a thorough evaluation and complete medical workup. We will devise the treatment plan that is best for you and your unique circumstances. Surgery is not always necessary. When it is, we are often able to use minimally invasive techniques that reduce trauma, blood loss, scarring, hospital stays and pain. They also result in quicker recovery.
Diagnosis
Get the answers you need.
It is rare for tennis elbow to appear on an X-ray, so diagnosis is done through a physical examination and a thorough medical history report. Your doctor may order a MRI if further evaluation is warranted.
Treatment
Life’s too short to put up with pain.
The treatment for tennis elbow often involves rest, physical therapy, bracing and cortisone injections. However, in more severe cases, our physicians perform minimally invasive surgery to remove damaged tendons, muscle tissue and loose bodies in the elbow. Following elbow surgery, your orthopaedic surgeon will likely prescribe physical therapy to aid in regaining strength and achieving a full recovery.
Our team also specializes in other conditions such as rotator cuff tear; arthritis; neuropathy; and fractures of the ankle, hand and wrist. Our surgeons are experts at performing surgeries such as reverse total shoulder replacement, hip replacement and meniscus tear surgery.