Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a common and painful condition that affects the elbow joint. It occurs when the tendons of the forearm muscles become damaged due to overuse or repetitive movements of the arm. If left untreated, it can cause pain and limited range of motion in your arm and elbow.
Here are some signs that you might have tennis elbow:
1. Elbow Pain: Anyone who has experienced the discomfort of tennis elbow knows it can be a real downer. Typically, pain from this condition presents itself as an ache outside your elbow that may travel up into your upper arm and forearm. Additionally, those dealing with such symptoms typically have tenderness when touched in the affected area – making even light contact difficult to bear!
2. Weak Grip Strength: Another telltale sign of tennis elbow is weakened grip strength in your hand and fingers due to weakened forearm muscles. You may also find it difficult to hold objects for extended periods or perform tasks that require gripping with any significant force, such as opening jars or turning doorknobs with one hand.
3. Pain When Moving Your Arm: Moving your arm may also be painful if you have Tennis Elbow because the damaged tendons are unable to handle normal daily activities without causing discomfort. For example, extending and flexing your wrist or lifting something above shoulder level can be particularly painful for someone suffering from this condition.
4. Swelling Around The Elbow Joint: Swelling around the elbow joint is another common sign of tennis elbow as localized inflammation often occurs as a result of damage to the tendon fibers in this area. This swelling can cause uncomfortable tightness in this joint due to increased pressure from fluid accumulation within it, which can limit its range of motion even further if not properly managed with rest and treatment measures such as physical therapy exercises or therapeutic massage techniques.
5. Numbness Or Tingling In Your Forearm And Fingers: Last but not least, some people experiencing tennis elbow may notice numbness or tingling sensations radiating down their forearm into their hands and fingers due to reduced blood flow within this area due to injury-induced muscle spasms surrounding nerve pathways leading away from the affected tendon fibers in their arms..This can contribute further to weakened grip strength and make it more difficult for them to complete activities requiring manual dexterity such as typing on a computer keyboard or writing with a pen – two common activities known to exacerbate this condition even further if not carefully managed with an adequate amount of rest between bouts of activity involving repetitive motions..
If you experience any combination of these symptoms, it’s important to speak with a healthcare provider about potential treatments for tennis elbow so you can start feeling better sooner rather than later! Although rest is often recommended first, physical therapy exercises tailored specifically for this condition have been found to be especially effective at reducing pain levels while improving function long-term – often through specific stretches, strengthening exercises targeting supporting muscles surrounding the affected tendons (such as those in your forearms), or both! Additionally, certain medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be beneficial at reducing inflammation levels associated with acute tennis elbow episodes.. Finally, utilizing ice packs after an activity has been found helpful by many who suffer from this condition thanks to its natural ability to provide temporary relief while simultaneously reducing inflammation throughout affected tissues – just make sure not to exceed more than 15 minutes per session at any given time!
Our Physical Therapy Can Help!
Our staff of licensed physical therapists work together with your referring physician to create a customized treatment program designed to overcome your unique challenges and restore pain-free function to your body.
Effective physical therapy is always designed to address your specific rehabilitation needs. So the first step for Tulsa Spine and Rehab’s physical therapists is to properly and fully identify your source of limitation or pain, while taking the time to educate you on the diagnosis, prognosis, and plan. Once both the therapists and you understand the problem, then we develop a customized treatment program where we can work together to restore as much of your function as possible.
