Occupational Therapy For Tennis Elbow
Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is inflammation in the muscles of the forearm attaching to the elbow. This inflammation is usually caused by small tears in tendons attaching to the elbow joint and arm bone, or the extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon. Tennis elbow is an overuse injury caused by repetitive activity and workplace injuries in fields like racquet sports, painters, carpenters and plumbers. If you are suffering from tennis elbow and are looking for occupational therapy in Lynbrook, reach out to us at East End Occupational Therapy.
Causes and symptoms of tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury, caused by repetitive use of the tendon in question. The inflammation is not a one-time event that causes tennis elbow but is believed to be a result of repetitive use and inflammation, caused by incompletely healed micro-tears in the tendon. Activities that cause repetitive gripping, grasping, and elbow movement are the main causes of this injury but can be caused, rarely, by trauma like a direct hit to the elbow.
Common symptoms of tennis elbow include aching pain or a burning sensation over the outside of the elbow. This pain is worsened when gripping or lifting using your arm, or repetitive movements involving elbow movement. The pain will start at the elbow but can spread into the forearm as well, especially if left untreated. The pain can grow gradually, or become onset suddenly, and can vary from mild to severe and dibilitating depending on the severity of the condition and lack of treatment. Tennis elbow also develops weakness in grip strength and strength in the arm overall. If you are suffering from tennis elbow, seek professional help right away to prevent your condition from worsening. For occupational therapy in Lynbrook, contact us at East End OT and see how we can help you!
Treatment for Tennis Elbow
Treatment for Tennis elbow typically includes over the counter pain medications and physical/occupational therapy. Your therapy sessions for tennis elbow will include RICE therapy and gentle exercises to strengthen muscles in the forearm and heal tendons to prevent reinjury, recover from pain, and reduce inflammation. Some typical exercises for tennis elbow include:
- Fist Clench- improves grip strength and strengthens forearms.
- Dumbbell Supination- strengthens the supinator muscle in your forearm, which is responsible for turning the palm upward
- Wrist Extensions and Flexions- wrist extensors are small muscles that connect to the elbow and help bend the wrist. These muscles are also subject to overuse and require strengthening and healing.
Your occupational therapist will work with you, using exercise techniques like the one described above and other therapies to help heal your tennis elbow and train your body to prevent reinjury. Come into East End OT or make an appointment and receive occupational therapy in Lynbrook to help with your tennis elbow today!
