Is there pain
slowly increasing on the outside of your elbows? Does the pain get
worse when you shake your hands or tighten your grip? Are simple
tasks like brushing your teeth, opening jars, and using a knife or a
fork difficult because of the pain? If you answered yes to any of
these questions, you might have a tennis elbow or lateral
epicondylitis.
Despite its
name, less than 5 percent of tennis elbow diagnoses are actually
related to the sport. The term is commonly used to describe a
condition caused by the overuse of arm, forearm, and hand muscles.
Thus, aside from tennis and racquetball, many other factors cause
tennis elbow.
If you feel
you have this condition, get a proper diagnosis from your physician.
For your doctor to confirm the diagnosis, he or she will conduct a
physical exam and ask you to provide a detailed description of the
pain; in rare cases, getting an X-ray may be necessary. Once a proper
diagnosis is made, the appropriate treatment can be given.
Medical means
can be used to treat tennis elbow. Physical therapy from
physiotherapists can relieve
pain. Electrotherapy, a non-invasive treatment used by
physiotherapists, can also relieve pain and promote healing.
Untreated
tennis elbows can last from 6 months to 2 years and becomes prone to
recurrence. When experiencing pain around the elbow, it is best to
visit a physiotherapist to provide proper diagnosis and treatment.
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