Tennis elbow treatment is easily diagnosed clinically. When a patient comes to us, the history of the patient is important which would include questions like

• How did the pain start?
  The reason of the pain is needed to train the patient in certain activities that he would be doing wrong.
• Since when does he have the pain?
  Whether the pain is acute or chronic, it plays a very important role in planning for tennis elbow treatment.

Once the history is taken, our therapist would examine the patient, we need to know whether it is a localized tennis elbow tenderness or there is a radiation to the arm or the forearm.

It is also important to rule out the possibility of a cervical component.

[ The main idea is to put together a treatment plan for a pain-free elbow ]

We first work on the pain issue. In an acute case; Rest, Ice, Compression works well. This reduces the inflammation and gives the rest to irritated muscles and tendons. Other treatments for pain are ultrasound, taping, laser, muscle stimulation. A brace could be suggested for the forearm muscles to give it rest for a few days.

Once the pain starts reducing, the therapist will start with exercises, to increase the strength and flexibility in the forearm muscles.

Generally, the pain starts reducing in a couple of sessions while the complete recovery would take 4-6 weeks. Exercises need to be done even after the pain completely disappears, say for about a total of 8 weeks, for getting complete strength back.

In this cases, the exercises do not work on the principle of “No pain no gain”, if any movement hurts, it needs to be stopped.

Your therapist will identify your pain-causing movements. He would also start your manual therapy which is mobilizing the joint along with movements.

Deep transverse frictions are also given.

These mobilizations break the adhesions at the tendon attachment & release the tightness, thus reducing pain, increasing the joint function, and improving the strength particularly the grip.

Along with the self-stretching exercises that are taught by the therapist. Some other exercises that are taught;

• Using 1 kg dumbbell
• Do wrist supination
• Do wrist Flexion
• Do wrist extension

Also, towel twisting exercises.

If you are a sportsperson and tennis elbow is due to an injury, always remember to warm up before playing. Muscles and tendons are less prone to tears with warm-up sessions.

Your therapist will also identify your fault in the technique that might be the reason for the pain. It could be gripping racquet too tight or the wrong use of elbow muscles.

Tennis elbow treatment generally affects the age group of 30-50 years. Seen more after 40 years of age. Unless it is your profession, you should be open to the idea of changing your sport, or at least its duration and frequency.

Your main aim should be fitness and not live with pain and injury.

Home Programme

Initially, all the exercises that have been taught to you have to be done along with a contrast bath. Once the elbow gets pain-free you would be taught certain exercises to keep the muscles strong and flexible to avoid further injuries. Correct use of the elbow is to be practiced eg. while lifting weight, keep your elbows flexed and forearm in supination.