Treating Epicondylitis

These conditions are also known as epicondylitis. Tennis elbow is called lateral epicondylitis and golfer's elbow medial epicondylitis — names that reflect how often they occur in athletes who play these particular sports. They appear on the outer and inner side of the elbow respectively and involve a tendinopathy and possibly inflammation in those areas.

The most common cause of elbow pain is overuse — repeated movement of the elbow under heavy load. It is frequently seen in athletes, but also in people whose activities demand constant use of either the elbow or the wrist.

When elbow pain appears, the first steps we take are:

• Rest the arm and avoid the activity that triggers the pain

• Apply ice to the elbow, over the painful area, for 15–20 minutes, 2–3 times a day (with the ice wrapped in a towel)

• Wrap or strap the area

• Gentle stretches of the shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers to maintain the flexibility of the arm

Elbow pain may appear locally, on the outer side — tennis elbow — or on the inner side — golfer's elbow — and can be reproduced by pressing on the corresponding bony prominences on the inner and outer aspects of the elbow. The pain usually occurs in the right arm — in left-handed people, the left — but in certain cases it can affect both arms at the same time. It may radiate towards the wrist or towards the shoulder and neck. It feels like tenderness in the area when the elbow moves, numbness, and a restricted range of motion.

The movements that can trigger the pain include lifting weight, clenching a fist or gripping an object, opening a door, and even shaking hands.

• When the pain does not subside after several days, despite taking the first steps described above

• The pain is very severe, with swelling and bruising

• The pain is present even without moving the arm

• Everyday activities are hindered by an inability to bend or straighten the elbow

The pain may ease after a while, but it will return later — more intense, and causing significant restriction in the movement of the arm.

If your pain is mild, it is very likely to settle soon if you follow the immediate steps described above. If, however, it does not subside, or it is stronger than mild pain, then physiotherapy is needed to reduce the pain and restore the arm's range of motion and strength. Physiotherapist Konstantinos Danalis applies:

Elbow pain usually lasts about 2 weeks if you do nothing about it. In more difficult cases, however, the pain can persist for several weeks.

To avoid elbow pain, you should:

• Stop the activity as soon as you feel pain

• Avoid carrying heavy objects

• Perform appropriate stretches for the arm

• Improve the ergonomics of your workstation

Although an elbow brace was once recommended to reduce pain and support the elbow during sport or activity, more recent studies show that it does not actually help to reduce pain — so you do not need to wear one. If you do choose to wear a brace, you should be aware that using it for many days on end can lead to muscle atrophy and is not advisable.

• Bursitis

• Sprain

• Strain

• Tendinopathy

• Golfer's Elbow (medial epicondylalgia)

• Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylalgia)

• Osteoarthritis

• Ulnar neuritis

Call PhysioDanali today to consult the Physiotherapist!

• Lucado AM, Day JM, Vincent JI, et al. Lateral Elbow Pain and Muscle Function Impairments. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2022;52(12):CPG1-CPG111. doi:10.2519/jospt.2022.0302

• Landesa-Piñeiro L, Leirós-Rodríguez R. Physiotherapy treatment of lateral epicondylitis: A systematic review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2022;35(3):463-477. doi:10.3233/BMR-210053