Tennis Elbow

image of man at a tennis court holding his elbow

Tennis elbow often gets better on its own, but the majority of people who have persistent pain show improvement through non-surgical treatment.

Tennis elbow is actually a misnomer in that it occurs in roughly only five percent of people who play tennis. Anatomically, the cause of tennis elbow is repetitive use of the forearm extensor muscles, especially if they weren't used much previously. Practically any occupation, sporting endeavor, or household activity that has repeated use of the forearm and wrist may lead to this condition. Certain activities and occupations are more commonly associated with tennis elbow, such as plumbing, painting, fishing, butchering, computer use, and playing certain musical instruments. Tennis elbow is most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 50, but can affect people of all ages.

Symptoms

People with tennis elbow complain of pain that expands from the outer elbow into their forearm and wrist. The pain primarily occurs where the tendons of your forearm attach to the bony areas on the outside elbow. In addition to pain, people with tennis elbow experience weakness that makes it particularly difficult to hold a coffee cup, turn a doorknob, or even shake hands. Tennis elbow can cause weakness when twisting or grabbing objects.

Tests

In many cases, your doctor can diagnosis tennis elbow simply by listening to you describe your symptoms, performing a physical examination, and learning about your lifestyle and activities. However, if your physician suspects other reasons like a pinched nerve, fracture, or arthritis are causing your pain, he may suggest X-rays, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), or Electromyography (EMG).

Treatment

A chiropractor will be able to determine if a misalignment in your spine, neck, or shoulders may be causing an overcompensation injury. In some cases, a basic chiropractic adjustment may be all your need to stop your symptoms of pain. Your chiropractor will also work with you to determine which activities may have caused your injury and will have you rest your arm while refraining from the trigger activities. Your chiropractor will also likely tell you to apply ice to the outside elbow two or three times a day for two to three weeks. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, help reduce pain and inflammation while your elbow is healing. Compression, by using an elastic bandage, is helpful to provide relief and prevent further injury. Lastly, elevating your elbow whenever possible will limit or prevent swelling.

If rest and ice do not alleviate your tennis elbow symptoms, then a physical therapy plan is often the recommended next step. You will learn exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons in your arm. Your chiropractor or physical therapist will also work with you to develop proper form and technique regarding the activity that was the likely culprit to developing your tennis elbow. Depending on the severity of the injury, your chiropractor or physical therapist may suggest you wear a brace or forearm strap, which will reduce stress on the injured tissue while it heals.

Source: National Institute of Health and Mayo Clinic

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  • "Dave, Hard to put into words how much better I feel. After I left your office, I returned to the shop preparing to go home due to my pain. A customer came in needing a set of 4 tires. I somewhat resisted but decided to gut it out. Halfway through the set I realized I headache was gone. Amazing. Thanks so much for your care and professional expertise."
    Mike
  • "Definitely The Best Experience

    Dr. Silbert is a caring, compassionate and extremely knowledgeable practitioner. My appointments not only relieved my pain but also my mind, as he patiently gave me more insight as to what was really happening in my body. He was very reassuring and confident that he could help my condition. Definitely the best experience I have ever had with anyone in the medical field."
    Kate J.
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    I found the staff at this office to be very friendly and helpful. They made me feel like an old friend. Surprisingly I was recommended by an ER doctor for “Active Release Therapy ” on my back and was surprised to learn that Dr. Silbert is the only chiropractor within about an hour drive that does this therapy. It is a slow process and I’ve only had 2 appointments but I would recommend them to anyone. Thank you."
    Cindy R.
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    While home training this summer, I began to encounter discomfort while working out. The joints around my knee were giving me pain. My greatest fear was I would have to give up my bobsled racing. A family friend recommended I see Dr. Silbert. After one visit I noticed a difference right away. My body is moving better and my training has resumed my competitive level. The success of my office visits has made my teammates want to see Dr. Silber."
    Valerie S. USA Women Bobsled Team