Tennis elbow (also known as lateral epicondylitis), is a common condition that affects the outer part of the elbow. Despite its name, you don’t have to play tennis to suffer from this condition. It’s usually caused by repetitive arm movements – leading to pain, inflammation, and weakened grip strength. Physical therapy offers effective strategies to overcome tennis elbow – focusing on pain relief, strengthening exercises, and stretches that can help alleviate symptoms. Let’s look into how physical therapy can assist in managing and recovering from tennis elbow.
Understanding Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow occurs when the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the outer part of the elbow become irritated or damaged due to repetitive strain. This can happen from activities like typing, lifting, painting, or activities like tennis. Physical therapy aims to address these issues, promoting healing and restoring normal function.
Initial Pain Management
The first step in treating tennis elbow with physical therapy is managing pain and inflammation. Physical therapists use various techniques to reduce pain, including ice therapy, heat therapy, and electrical stimulation. These methods can help decrease swelling and provide temporary relief, allowing you to focus on rehabilitation exercises without discomfort.
Strengthening Exercises
Once the initial pain is managed, physical therapy focuses on strengthening the forearm muscles to support the tendons and reduce strain on the elbow. A physical therapist can guide you through exercises to assist in the healing process. These exercises are performed in a controlled manner and are gradually progressed as strength improves.
Preventing Reinjury
Physical therapy also involves teaching proper techniques and movements to prevent reinjury. This includes advice on how to lift objects correctly, use proper tools, and take breaks from repetitive tasks. A physical therapist can help you adjust your daily activities to reduce strain on the elbow and prevent future episodes of tennis elbow.
If you’re looking for relief from your tennis elbow symptoms, then contact Activity First Physical Therapy today! Our team is full of professionals that are experienced in treating tennis elbow.