What to know about the famous ‘Tennis Elbow’ (epicondylitis)

Firstly, it doesn’t only happen to tennis players. The majority of those experiencing pain in the tendons that insert on the epicondyle (elbow) are not tennis players; they engage in repetitive movements at work or in their daily activities,  or they participate in occasional activities such as painting the house, during which they perform a sudden, single movement with their hand/wrist triggering the pain.

This primarily occurs in individuals aged between 35 and 55, attributed to morphological changes in the tendons that make them weaker and, consequently, more prone to injury. Pain is mainly felt at the insertion of the tendons on the epicondyle.

Pain is typically worse in the evening; in the morning, the elbow is stiffer. Grasping objects with the hand can worsen the pain, and extending the elbow will make it even more uncomfortable.

Treatment

The most crucial aspect of rehabilitation is giving rest to the painful arm by modifying your activities (e.g., reducing work/sport hours, delegating household tasks, etc.). In physiotherapy, a exercise program will be introduced, possibly including light stretching and progressive pain-free strengthening exercises. In treatment, the therapist will apply necessary modalities based on each individual’s unique condition in order to manage the pain.