What is Tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a painful condition that occurs when tendons in your elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm.
Despite its name, athletes aren’t the only people who develop tennis elbow. People whose jobs feature the types of motions that can lead to tennis elbow include plumbers, painters, carpenters and butchers.
Root Cause of Disease
Tennis elbow is an overuse and muscle strain injury. The cause is repeated contraction of the forearm muscles that you use to straighten and raise your hand and wrist. The repeated motions and stress to the tissue may result in a series of tiny tears in the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the bony prominence at the outside of your elbow.
Symptoms
The pain associated with tennis elbow may radiate from the outside of your elbow into your forearm and wrist. Pain and weakness may make it difficult to:
- Shake hands or grip an object
- Turn a doorknob
- Hold a coffee cup
Common signs and symptoms of tennis elbow include:
- Pain or burning on the outer part of your elbow
- Weak grip strength
- Sometimes, pain at night
The symptoms are often worsened with forearm activity, such as holding a racquet, turning a wrench, or shaking hands. Your dominant arm is most often affected; however, both arms can be affected.
Causes
As the name suggests, playing tennis — especially repeated use of the backhand stroke with poor technique — is one possible cause of tennis elbow. However, many other common arm motions can cause tennis elbow, including:
- Using plumbing tools
- Painting
- Driving screws
- Cutting up cooking ingredients, particularly meat
- Repetitive computer mouse use
Factors that may increase your risk of tennis elbow include:
- Age: While tennis elbow affects people of all ages, it’s most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 50.
- Occupation: People who have jobs that involve repetitive motions of the wrist and arm are more likely to develop tennis elbow. Examples include plumbers, painters, carpenters, butchers and cooks.
- Certain sports: Participating in racket sports increases your risk of tennis elbow, especially if you employ poor stroke technique.
Home Remedies to treat Patellar Tendinitis
Remedy – 1: Icing & Heating
Procedure:
To help reduce swelling, apply an ice pack, or wrapped in a towel, for at least half an hour, 3 to 4 times a day. Never place an ice pack or bag directly on the skin as this can cause damage, or in severe cases frostbite, to skin tissue, and if left on your skin too long can stop blood flow.
Inflammation is the body’s natural way of healing itself. Once an injury occurs, your body increases blood flow and within this flow are organic nutrients such as, amino acids and antibodies, which protect and heal the inflamed area. Applying a warm compress, like a heating pad or heating pods, helps to increase the blood flow and speed up the healing process. This not only feels good on the injury, but it helps relax tight muscles and relieves pain.
Remedy – 2: Apple Cider Vinegar
Materials: Apple Cider Vinegar
Procedure:
- Mix half a cup of apple cider vinegar with half a cup of warm water.
- Soak a clean washcloth in this mixture, wring it and place on the affected area surrounding the tendon. Leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes
- Remove the washcloth.
- You can also mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and drink daily.
Product link: Apple Cider Vinegar
Remedy – 3: Cayenne Pepper
Materials:
- 1 teaspoon of powdered cayenne pepper
- 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil
Procedure:
- To a teaspoon of cayenne pepper powder, add a few teaspoons of warmed olive oil.
- Massage this mixture gently onto the affected area.
- Leave it on for at least 30 minutes before washing it off.
- You can also mix a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass of water and honey and drink daily.
You can apply cayenne pepper topically 2 to 3 times daily.
Product Link: Cayenne Pepper
Preventions
The key to preventing tennis elbow is to avoid overuse. Stop if you feel any elbow pain during an activity.
You may also bring on tennis elbow by using the wrong equipment, like a golf club or tennis racket that is too heavy or that has a grip that is too large. Bad technique — like using the wrong posture for a swing — can also lead to tennis elbow. You should also:
- Stretch and warm up before any sport or activity that will exercise your elbow or arm.
- Ice your elbow after exercise.
