Elbow Pain : "Tennis Elbow"
You don't have to play tennis to develop tennis elbow.
It can be due to any movement that puts excessive force on the
wrist muscles. Tennis elbow refers to elbow pain as the result
of an injury to the elbow tendons that bend and straighten the
wrist. Hold your hand down with your thumb on the outside
(lateral to your hand) and your elbow straight.
Pain on the lateral (outside) part of your elbow is called
backhand tennis elbow. Pain on the medial (inside) part is
called forehand tennis elbow.
The muscles and tendons are damaged when the force on them
is greater than their inherent strength. If the ball hits your
racquet with a force that is greater than the strength of your
wrist muscles, your wrist tendons tear.
In the same way, carrying a suit case, twisting a
screwdriver, turning a stuck faucet, or trying to open a jammed
door can tear your wrist muscles and cause tennis elbow.
If you have tennis elbow, rest the injured part until you
can bend your wrist against mild resistance without feeling any
pain in your elbow. Then you should start a program of
progressive resistance exercise to strengthen your wrist
muscles. Sit in a chair with a light weight in your hand, Place
your arm so that it rests touching the table from your wrist to
your elbow.
If you have forehand tennis elbow, your palm should be up.
If you have backhand tennis elbow, the palm should be down.
Then slowly raise and lower the weight by bending and
straightening your wrist in three sets of ten, every other day.
Stop if you feel pain.
Dr. Gabe Mirkin has been a radio talk show host for 25 years
and practicing physician for more than 40 years; he is board
certified in four specialties, including sports medicine. Read
or listen to hundreds of his fitness and health reports at
http://www.DrMirkin.com | Free weekly newsletter
on fitness, health, and nutrition. | For other
common injuries see my articles on * A Pain in the Butt:
Piriformis Syndrome * Heel Pain: Plantar Fasciitis * Ankle
Pain: Achilles Tendinitis * Shin Splints * Shoulder Pain:
Rotator Cuff Injuries * Stress Fractures
Learn
How to Play
Tennis |
Tennis
Racquets
|