Tennis Elbow

Understanding Tennis Elbow: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Tennis elbow, clinically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that affects the tendons running along the back of your forearm, attaching to the side of your elbow. It manifests as pain in the elbow due to overuse of these tendons. Despite its name, tennis elbow can impact anyone who frequently engages their forearms and wrists. At City Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, we offer comprehensive care for patients from all walks of life experiencing tennis elbow. Our team possesses the expertise to address this condition through traditional conservative methods and cutting-edge procedures as needed.

What are the Causes?

Tennis elbow develops when the tendons in your forearm are subjected to overuse, resulting in microscopic tears where they anchor at the elbow. This often occurs with repetitive activities such as:

• Racquet sports like tennis or racquetball
• Construction work involving power drills or hammers
• Excessive typing
• Occupations demanding twisting or gripping, such as dentistry, carpentry, or plumbing

If any of these activities resonate with you, we strongly advise taking regular breaks and performing arm muscle stretches to alleviate the tension that can lead to tennis elbow.

Symptoms

Recognizing early signs and symptoms of injury during physical activities is crucial to prevent further harm and discomfort. Commonly reported tennis elbow symptoms include:

• Elbow pain
• Elbow tenderness
• Pain radiating from the wrist through the forearm and elbow
• Weakened grip
• Inability to engage in routine activities due to elbow pain

If you encounter any of these symptoms, reach out to City Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine and schedule an appointment with our tennis elbow doctor in Harrison, NY. Our experienced physicians offer various treatment modalities and can swiftly and effectively diagnose and treat your condition. With proper care from our team, you’ll be on the road to recovery in no time.

Diagnosing Tennis Elbow

At City Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine in New York, we boast extensive experience in addressing tennis elbow and various forms of tendonitis. Our physicians can typically make an accurate diagnosis of your elbow condition by discussing your symptoms, reviewing your medical history, and conducting a thorough physical examination of the affected area.

Treatment

In most instances, tennis elbow responds well to conservative treatment. Non-invasive options include:

• Rest
• Ice
• Anti-inflammatory medications
• Physical therapy
• Elbow brace
• Cortisone injections
• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy

Surgical intervention for tennis elbow is rarely required. However, if symptoms persist after six months to a year, our orthopedic surgeons may recommend tennis elbow surgery. This procedure employs minimally invasive techniques to repair the damaged tendon, promoting full recovery.