When Should You See a Physio for Tennis Elbow?

What is Tennis Elbow?

If you have pain on the outer part of your elbow, you might be struggling with tennis elbow. When the tendons that connect the muscles of your forearm to your elbow become damaged, then this condition occurs. Damaged tendons make it difficult to rotate the forearm and flex the wrist and fingers backward.

What Causes Tennis Elbow?

When the forearm muscles are overused using a repeated twisting motion, it can lead to tennis elbow. These repeated movements are common in several jobs, including plumbing or carpentry. They are also common in various daily activities, such as lifting objects or doing yard work. Swimming, racket sports, and throwing sports, such as baseball, can also result in tennis elbow. Here are some causes of tennis elbow injuries:

• Overuse: Repeated motions or movements that involve twisting the elbow repeatedly can lead to small tears in the tendon, which can weaken it. Overuse usually depends on how hard or how long you are doing something.
• Technique: The way you perform an activity can also cause tennis elbow. This includes holding a tool or equipment in an awkward position while you use it.
• Equipment: This can occur, for instance, if you use sports equipment or a tool that is too heavy to hold or that has a grip that’s the wrong size for your hand, which can lead to tennis elbow.
• A single accident, such as a direct hit to the side of your elbow or falling on an outstretched arm.

Anyone can suffer from tennis elbow, but people in their 40s usually develop tennis elbow.

What are the Symptoms of Tennis Elbow?

• Tennis elbow pain usually occurs in the dominant arm.
• The outside of the elbow is usually affected. When the affected area is pressed, the pain gets worse.
• You may notice that the pain increases in the evening, making it difficult to sleep. The elbow might also be stiff in the morning.
• Over time, the pain may occur even with mild activity.

Physio for Tennis Elbow: When Should You See a Physio?

You need to see a physiotherapist Glenroy at Magnus Medical for tennis elbow if you notice any of the following signs:

• You find it difficult to move your arm or elbow.
• Your elbow starts changing colour or gets swollen.
• You experience unbearable pain, making it hard to perform daily activities.
• The pain affects your sleep.
• The pain persists for more than a week.

How Does a Physiotherapist Help With Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow physiotherapy treatment aims to improve the tendon’s ability to handle load. Rest alone rarely resolves the issue. Instead, progressive and structured rehabilitation is needed. A physiotherapy session usually includes load management to alleviate aggravating movements while maintaining progressive strengthening to rebuild tendon tolerance, and movement correction to identify contributing wrist or shoulder mechanics. Early-stage treatment may also involve techniques that help reduce pain while exercise therapy progresses.

How Long Does Tennis Elbow Take to Heal?

Tennis elbow usually lasts anywhere from a few months to over a year. It generally takes around 6 months to heal, but some people may need more time to recover (up to 18 months). Tennis elbow recovery time depends on various factors, including:

• the cause of tennis elbow
• how damaged your tendon is
• which treatment will be effective for you

How to Prevent Tennis Elbow?

Here are some prevention techniques:

• You need to focus on forearm strengthening, especially eccentric exercises, such as wrist curls and reverse curls.
• Use lightweight rackets with larger grips.
• During repetitive tasks, you should take frequent breaks.
• Increase activity duration or intensity slowly.

Is Tennis Elbow Permanent?

Generally, tennis elbow is not permanent, and in around 90% of cases, it resolves on its own or with certain treatments, usually within 6 to 12 months. While it may recover slowly, it is not a permanent condition. Make sure to choose one of the best tennis elbow specialists to get rid of this condition.

Conclusion

Tennis elbow can be persistent, but it can be treated using structured rehabilitation programs. The right treatment can identify the root cause of tendon overload rather than simply reducing symptoms. If you are struggling with tennis elbow, you can reach out to a physiotherapist at Magnus Medical.

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