If your job requires you to use your arms repetitively, you’re at risk for a condition called tennis elbow. The same is true if you play sports that require repetitive motions such as tennis or golf. Luckily, there are ways for you to keep your elbows pain-free by preventing tennis elbow in the first place.
At Orthopaedic Specialists, Dr. Brandon Downs offers specialized orthopaedic care to residents in the Nashville, Tennessee area. Dr. Downs and his team evaluate your symptoms to determine if tennis elbow is the culprit behind your elbow and arm pain.
Tennis elbow, which is also called lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition that affects the tendons in your elbow. Repetitive motions in your arms cause these tendons to become stressed, leading to inflammation and intense pain.
While the name implies that athletes are prone to this injury, anyone has the potential to develop tennis elbow. Certain professions are also at a higher risk for tennis elbow, including:
Cleaners, carpenters, and butchers are also at an increased risk. Anything that requires you to make repetitive arm movements can lead to tennis elbow.
Typically, tennis elbow is more likely to occur in your dominant arm. This is usually the arm that you use the most during work or physical activity.
There are a number of different signs and symptoms related to tennis elbow. The pain and other symptoms you may experience are based on the severity of your tennis elbow. Common signs and symptoms associated with this condition include:
You may also notice that you have a hard time gripping objects when you have tennis elbow. This makes it difficult to perform certain tasks, like holding a coffee cup or gripping a door knob.
If you’re at risk for tennis elbow, it’s important to know what steps you can take to prevent this painful condition. There are a number of tips to keep your elbows healthy, some of which include:
Tennis elbow is a type of overuse injury, often caused by repetitive movements in your arm. If you can, try to avoid the same movements over and over again. If there’s no way to do this, be sure to rest in between these movements.
Stretching is important for any kind of physical activity. This is especially vital in activities that require repetitive wrist and arm motions.
At the first sign of elbow pain, it’s important that you stop, rest, and seek medical care, especially when the pain doesn’t go away. A little rest goes a long way in preventing tennis elbow.
If you start to experience pain in your arm or elbow, an elbow brace helps to stabilize the tendons and take the stress off of them. This can prevent tennis elbow from getting worse.
Your muscles help support the rest of the structures in your arm, including your tendons. Stronger muscles allow you to take some of the strain off of your tendons, effectively preventing tennis elbow from occurring.
Properly fitted gear reduces strain on your muscles and tendons in your arm. This includes tennis racquets and your golf clubs. Technique also plays a role when it comes to preventing injuries and strain.
If you’re worried about tennis elbow, don’t hesitate to contact Orthopaedic Specialists by calling one of our convenient offices in the Nashville, Tennessee area or booking an appointment online.
