Pain

Athlete’s epicondylitis: what it is and how to prevent tennis elbow

Athlete’s epicondylitis: what it is and how to prevent tennis elbow

The practice of sports and, in general, any physical activity, is good for our health and helps us to stay fit and healthy. However, there is always a risk of injury, either due to excessive activity, not performing some movements or exercises technically correctly, or not warming up before exercising.

One of the most frequent elbow injuries that we can suffer if we play sports, especially if the activity in question involves repetitive movement of the forearm, is epicondylitis, commonly known as tennis elbow.

In this article we will explain what it consists of, what its symptoms are, and some basic recommendations that can help you prevent its appearance.

What is tennis elbow

Lateral epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow, is one of the most common causes of elbow pain and conditions, and is usually caused by overuse or overload due to the repetition of certain movements involving pronation – supination of the hand. If we look at the gesture that a tennis player makes when hitting with his right hand, which is usually the good hand, the hand usually pulls backward before hitting (as if extending the palm outward) and then forward after the hit (with the palm facing inward), in a gesture that makes the extensor muscles of the forearm work and overloads the epicondyle.

The epicondyle is the bony protuberance located on the outside of the elbow. It is the insertion point of the forearm extensor muscles that are responsible for wrist and finger extension.

Due to the overload in this area, the tendons that join the extensor muscles with the lateral epicondyle can become inflamed and cause pain, not only in this area, but also in the forearm and even cause a sensation of weakness in the hand.

Although lateral epicondylitis is commonly known as tennis elbow, it is not an injury that is limited to this particular sport or athlete. Any job that involves repetitive movements of the forearm can be a risk factor. Another aspect to highlight is that its incidence is more pronounced in people between the ages of 30 and 50, but it can occur at any age.

How to prevent and treat lateral epicondylitis

The prevention of tennis elbow may vary depending on the type of activity we are going to perform or that we perform frequently. The following recommendations are general, and it is important to consult a medical professional if we notice discomfort in the outer area of the elbow, or if due to our profession or any sporting activity we perform, we carry out repetitive movements involving the extensor muscles of the forearm.

  • Warm up properly: If we are going to do sports or any physical activity, it is important to warm up properly to avoid injuries. Warm-up exercises such as wrist rotation, or touching the tip of the thumb with each finger of the hand, are a good option to warm up the extensor muscle.
  • Watch your technique: Tennis, for example, requires a well-executed technique not only to play better, but also to avoid injury. Any action that involves repetitive forearm movements must be correctly executed to minimize the risk of injury.
  • Use the right equipment: For sports, as for any other activity, it is important to use the right equipment that allows us to perform the movements well without risk of injury. A tool in poor condition or of poor quality, or sports equipment that does not correspond to our age, size or way of playing, can affect and increase the chances of getting hurt.
  • Stay in shape: The strength and flexibility of the extensor muscle is important when it comes to preventing injuries. Including exercises that specifically work the forearm in our routine can help us avoid the onset of tennis elbow.

Regarding treatment, the first thing to do if we have injured ourselves or if we notice pain in this area, is to minimize the workload until we have consulted with a medical professional who will make the appropriate diagnosis and decide what treatment is best suited to our situation.

In general, conservative treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs or rest may be the first measures if the injury is recent and not particularly serious, and should be sufficient for the pain to disappear after some time. However, in cases where the pain persists, surgical intervention may be necessary.

There are other possibilities, such as physiotherapy or local infiltration of corticosteroids, platelet-rich plasma and techniques on the posterior antebrachial cutaneous nerve, but once again, this is something to be decided by the medical professional who makes the diagnosis and evaluates our case concretely.

At Instituto Aliaga we are specialists in the treatment and management of pain. Our team of professionals will address your case through a multidisciplinary approach that covers all aspects that may affect your quality of life. If you suffer from pain or would like to make a consultation about any of our treatments, please contact contact us or make an appointment by calling +34 935 952 910.

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Por Víctor Mayoral Rojals

Director de la Unidad de Dolor MIVI Instituto Aliaga