What Is The Best Treatment For Tennis Elbow?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • Icing the elbow to reduce pain and swelling. …
  • Using an elbow strap to protect the injured tendon from further strain.
  • Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, to help with pain and swelling.

What is the most effective treatment for tennis elbow?


Rest, ice, compression and elevation

are the best treatment for tennis elbow, followed up with specific exercise and physical therapy. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) refers to an injury to the outer elbow tendon that occurs after strenuous overuse of the muscles and tendons of the forearm, near the elbow joint.

Does tennis elbow ever go away?


Tennis elbow will get better without treatment

(known as a self-limiting condition). Tennis elbow usually lasts between 6 months and 2 years, with most people (90%) making a full recovery within a year. The most important thing to do is to rest your injured arm and stop doing the activity that caused the problem.

How do I make my tennis elbow stop hurting?

Over-the-counter pain relievers:

Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve)

can ease mild to moderate pain. These are called NSAIDs — nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — and they reduce inflammation, too. Talk to your doctor about taking these, especially if you need them for weeks.

What should you not do if you have tennis elbow?


Chin-ups, pushups and bench presses

: All of these movements put a strain on your elbow’s flexors, which can lead to further irritation of the lateral tendons of your elbow. Wrist exercises: It’s best to avoid any wrist exercises, especially forearm dumbbell curls or barbell extensions.

What can be mistaken for tennis elbow?

  • Medial epicondylitis, or golfer’s elbow, causes pain in the same area as tennis elbow. …
  • Osteochondritis is a joint disease. …
  • Arthritis can wear down the protective cartilage around the elbow.

How can I get rid of tennis elbow fast?

  1. Icing the elbow to reduce pain and swelling. …
  2. Using an elbow strap to protect the injured tendon from further strain.
  3. Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin, to help with pain and swelling.

Is it good to massage tennis elbow?


Deep tissue massage to the forearm

is a very effective method of easing tennis elbow and healing it much faster than rest alone. Deep tissue massage will enhance circulation and combining this with friction therapy to the tendons on the elbow joint, positive results are seen.

Should I wear tennis elbow brace overnight?

Use a brace while sleeping

By doing so, they help

reduce pressure

on the injured elbow tendons, and this can help reduce pain that’s keeping you up at night. These braces help keep the forearm muscles from contracting fully, and this can be helpful to your tennis elbow if you typically clench your fists at night.

Why does tennis elbow hurt more at night?

Many people find that it hurts the worst first thing in the morning, because

the muscles and tendons stiffen during sleep

, when we’re relatively immobile and circulation drops. This overnight stiffening can exacerbate the pain once you get up and begin moving the arm.

Does tennis elbow hurt all the time?

The most common symptom of tennis elbow is

an ache on the outside of your elbow

. Over time — from a few weeks to a few months — the ache turns into a constant pain. The outside of your elbow may be too painful to touch.

Why is my tennis elbow getting worse?

Many

repetitive tasks using the hand, wrist and arm

can cause the pain and inflammation of tennis elbow. Movements like gripping and twisting overwork the tendon that attaches your forearm muscles to the bony protrusion on the outside of your elbow.

Will an xray show tennis elbow?

Your healthcare provider can usually diagnosis your tennis elbow by a physical exam. In some cases, you may certain tests, such as: An X

-ray to look at the bones of your elbow

to see if you have arthritis in your elbow. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can show your tendons and how severe the damage is.

Do push ups help tennis elbow?

Pushups are a very popular body-weight exercise. However, this exercise is one that you should definitely avoid if you have tennis elbow. Pushups are designed to work your triceps, pectorals and shoulders, but you

will have to bend your elbows repeatedly to do them

.

Is it better to keep your arm straight or bent with tennis elbow?

When resting is not possible, adjusting arm movements can help to ease symptoms. For example, a person can try keeping their palms flat and

elbows bent

when lifting. Doing exercises designed for tennis elbow helps strengthen forearm muscles and improve function.

Where is the pain located with tennis elbow?

The pain of tennis elbow occurs primarily where

the tendons of your forearm muscles attach to a bony bump on the outside of your elbow

. Pain can also spread into your forearm and wrist.

Kim Nguyen
Author
Kim Nguyen
Kim Nguyen is a fitness expert and personal trainer with over 15 years of experience in the industry. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has trained a variety of clients, from professional athletes to everyday fitness enthusiasts. Kim is passionate about helping people achieve their fitness goals and promoting a healthy, active lifestyle.