Comprehensive Tennis Elbow Treatment for Lasting Relief

Tennis Elbow

Looking for tennis elbow treatment in Melbourne? You’ve come to the right place. Tennis elbow is a common condition that we treat here at Fairfield Physiotherapy. Our physios can help you manage the pain and discomfort associated with the condition and work towards a sustainable recovery through a range of treatments.

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow, otherwise known as lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition that affects the tendons in your elbow. In its early stages, tennis elbow begins as an ache where the muscles of your forearm attach to the bony bump on the outside of your elbow. However, if left untreated, it can progress to a severe pain spreading up your forearm or down to your wrist. Accessing the right kind of treatment early on can help prevent the condition from worsening and restore the function of your elbow.

Causes of tennis elbow

Despite its name, tennis elbow is not only common in tennis players but can appear in individuals who participate in activities that involve repetitive motions of the hand and wrist. The pain caused by tennis elbow is caused by tendonitis of the elbow tendons. This is usually the result of strain or overuse of the tendon that attaches your muscles to the bone in your upper arm. When your hand or wrist is raised or straightened repeatedly, eg when using gardening shears, this causes stress on the tissue that may result in tiny tears in the tendon.

That said, playing tennis is the common cause of tennis elbow due to repeated arm motions exacerbated by poor technique. You may also get tennis elbow from other occupations that require repeated movements, such as a tradesman using power tools. Office workers may also suffer from tennis elbow as a result of using a computer mouse or keyboard incorrectly.

Here are a few occupations or leisure activities that may cause Tennis Elbow:

Typist
Gardener
Plumber
Painter
Carpenter
Playing musical instruments like piano or drums
Dentist
Cooking
Playing sports such as tennis, squash or badminton

Age is also a risk factor when it comes to tennis elbow. While the condition does affect people of all ages, it is most prevalent in adults of working age, between 30-50 years old.

What are the symptoms

So, how can you tell if you have tennis elbow? If you experience any of the following symptoms, it is likely that you may need to see a specialist.

Tenderness on the outer part of the elbow or outside elbow pain
Elbow stiffness
Persistent aching of the elbow
Soreness in the forearm
Worsening of pain when grasping an object
Weakness when gripping objects

If you feel discomfort in your outer elbow or when you move your elbow, it is best to visit to a physiotherapist as soon as possible.

Physiotherapy treatment of tennis elbow

Is there are cure for the pain you feel in your elbow? Physiotherapy can help reduce the pain and can lead to an immense improvement. Contact us today for a thorough assessment with one of our physiotherapists.

At your initial consultation, our physiotherapist will examine you to determine the cause and severity of your condition and work with you to develop a treatment and management plan to suit your needs and recovery goals. For example, if you are an athlete, we will work with you to gradually build up strength and reduce tightness in the area and adjust your training to prevent overload or correct harmful techniques. We believe that patient involvement in their own treatment is important to achieve long-term recovery.

Physiotherapy and prescribed treatment for tennis elbow will vary depending upon the severity of your condition. Physiotherapy treatment for tennis elbow may include:

Exercises prescribed by your physiotherapist to gradually strengthen the tendons
Remedial massage
Muscle re-education to improve strength and control
Rest
Protection in the form of a brace or strapping
Ice & compression
Ergonomic and workplace assessment and advice
Dry needling
Joint mobilisation or manipulation to reduce pain and stiffness

Dry needling for tennis elbow

Dry needling or trigger point dry needling is a treatment that involves inserting super fine acupuncture needles into muscle trigger spots. It can help to cure muscle stiffness, relieve muscle pain and encourage blood flow into the affected area. Insertion of the needle is relatively pain free due to how small they are, though you may sometimes feel an ache when your muscle twitches, or soreness in the days following your treatment (much like the aftermath of a massage).

Exercise for tennis elbow

Exercise is one of the most common tennis elbow cures and there is a large body of evidence to support the benefits. As with many tendon injuries addressing the pain and inflammation in the early stages will help with symptoms but properly addressing weakness or other vulnerabilities in the forearm/elbow will help avoid recurrence or future injury. Stretching exercises can reduce tightness resulting from elbow strain, and strength exercises can help build up tolerance for activities. Read our blog for 8 effective exercises to treat Tennis Elbow.

Whether this is the first time you are experiencing elbow pain, or if you have been suffering with tennis elbow for years, our physios can recommend the best forms of therapy for your condition. We also provide advice and management for tennis elbow that arises from sports or occupational related activities. We can help to minimise pain and get you back in the game or on the job as quickly as possible. Fairfield Physiotherapy is offering $93 initial consultations for all new patients, including the first round of prescribed treatment. Call 9489 7744 to book an appointment.