Tennis elbow is a tendinosis of the wrist and finger extensor muscles on the outside of the elbow. It is similar to this is "golfer’s elbow, which refers to tendinosis of the wrist and finger flexor muscles on the inside of the elbow.
Tennis elbow is caused by the overuse of the wrist extensors, especially the main muscle that stabilizes the wrist for grip strength. Tennis players are prone to this, but not exclusively. It is seen frequently in other athletes such as fencers and throwers, as well as many people who do repetitive work such as carpentry or computer mouse work.
In tennis elbow, the outside (lateral side) of the elbow becomes painful to the touch. There is usually no sort of deformity, but occasionally some swelling can be seen. Treatment involves the usual treatment for any overuse malady: rest. Yet this can be difficult, because this muscle group is used with many activities of daily living. To combat this, an elbow strap should be worn when doing activities. Surgery is usually only considered if symptoms persist six months or more despite best efforts with nonsurgical options.
Neil Haboush is a Montreal businessman and sports enthusiast, who advocates for the benefits of stretching and yoga exercise.
Neil Haboush
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