“Tennis elbow” (or lateral epicondylitis) is a chronic disease characterized by painful sensations and an inflammatory process in the ulnar zone (namely, at the junction of the muscles with the epicondyles of the humerus).
Causes of the disease
The cause of the disease “tennis player’s elbow” is excessive load on the muscles, forearms and tendons of the hands. Most often, such a disease affects tennis players. Athletes, performing uniform repetitive blows to the ball with a racket, put a huge load on the muscles and tendons, which cause the development of lateral epicondylitis, most often right-handed.
The disease “tennis player’s elbow” affects not only sports enthusiasts, but also people who perform repeated physical activities (chopping wood, working with a wrench, playing golf, hammering nails, painting , etc.), which causes chronic tension of the ulnar tissue.
Sometimes such a disease, affecting simultaneously all neighboring areas: muscles, ligaments, tendons and periosteum - can be caused by trauma or bruising of the elbow. Often, lateral epicondylitis is combined with osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine.
"Tennis elbow" is characteristic of half of tennis players and 14% of the total population. Female sex, this disease affects less than the strong half of humanity (in the age category of 30-50 years).
Diagnosis of elbow disease
The presence of lateral epicondylitis in the body can be determined by pain in the ulnar zone, the back surface of the forearm, the area of the epicondyle, hand or fingers.
At first, being insignificant, pain sensations gradually increase, increase with strong clenching of the fist, shaking hands, grabbing certain objects with the hand, or lifting insignificant weights: it can even be a mug of water. Any simple movements with this disease, which has a progressive character, subsequently become unbearable torture.
“Tennis player's elbow”, the treatment of which is the use of complex therapy, is not difficult to diagnose at the initial stage of development by detecting tissue edema and muscle extensor ruptures.
Tennis Elbow: Treatment
Treatment of the syndrome of "tennis elbow" is carried out comprehensively and is aimed at reducing the load in the ulnar zone, relieving pain and inflammation, complete regeneration of the affected organ and its strengthening. Effective therapy and quick recovery will ensure timely access to medical personnel at the first sign of illness. How to treat "tennis player's elbow"? At the initial stage, the affected organ is required to ensure complete rest. With a mild pain syndrome, self-massage in the muscle area and application of dry heat will be required.
Of the drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesics are effective: Ibuprofen, Ortofen, Indomethacin, Butadion, Diclofenac. "Tennis player's elbow" is effectively treated with physiotherapeutic procedures (laser, electrophoresis of novocaine or hydrocortisone, ultrasound, sinusoidal currents). In the morning and evening, it is recommended to apply an iodine grid to the elbow area .
Fixing a sore arm
To fix a damaged arm, it is definitely worth using an elastic bandage or orthosis applied in the form of a figure eight. “Tennis player’s elbow” heals quickly if such special bandages are used that support the elbow joint, reduce the load on the arm and protect against various types of injuries. In acute pain, the hand is hung on a scarf or a plaster cast is applied to it (for a period of 3 to 5 weeks).
Traditional medicine recipes
In the treatment of this disease, the recipes of traditional medicine have proven themselves, the action of which is aimed at getting rid of ulnar pain and relieving inflammation. An effective remedy is comfrey plant , the roots and freshly chopped leaves of which (1: 1) need to be combined with 1/4 part of melted honey and 1/4 part of vegetable oil. All this must be ground to a homogeneous mass and applied warmly to the affected area. From above it is necessary to apply a layer of gauze, compress paper, bandage and leave for a day. Keep medical paste in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks or in the freezer for several months. In the case of proper treatment after a short time, you can forget about a disease such as "tennis elbow."
Treatment with folk remedies involves the removal of inflammation of the epicondyle with an onion connected to the tar. To prepare it, you need to cut the onion into two parts, drip two drops of pine tar in the middle of the halves. Both halves need to be attached to the sore joint in the epicondyle. The dressing should be fixed and left for 30 minutes. Treatment should be carried out twice a day.
Milk compress against elbow inflammation
A milk compress helps well, for the preparation of which it is required to warm the milk to 60⁰, dissolving the crushed propolis in it: a teaspoon per 100 ml of liquid. A warm milk mixture is required to soak a gauze napkin, wrap the affected joint with it, cover it with parchment paper on top and warm it. Leave the compress for 2 hours. Treatment is carried out 20 days twice a day.
Tennis Elbow: Exercises
As the patient is cured, the patient can gradually begin physical therapy exercises and slowly return to normal activities, while accelerating his own recovery at home. To do this, it is recommended to spare the muscles, not make sudden movements, perform light physical exercises, the action of which is aimed at strengthening and stretching the muscles and tendons around the elbow zone.
- Raise your hand to shoulder level and bend at the wrist. With the other hand you need to gently pull the brush towards the elbow. Perform within half a minute five to ten times.
- Put the forearm on the knee so that the brush hangs freely. Take a cargo weighing 0.250-0.500 kg into your hand - slowly bend and unbend your hand in your wrist. Repeat exercise 5-10 times.
- You need to sit down, put your forearm on your knee so that the hand is perpendicular to its surface. Squeeze the handle of the hammer and slowly turn the wrist to the left, then to the right (5-10 times).
- Put a rubber band on your fingertips and stretch it 20 times, spreading your fingers apart. After a short break, repeat the exercise three times. With insufficient resistance, two rubber bands can be worn on the fingers.
- Squeeze a tennis ball in your hand about 20 times. Do the exercise three times with short breaks.
As a rule, prognosis for treating tennis elbow in 95% of cases is favorable.
In rare cases, conservative treatment is powerless and you have to resort to surgery.
Preventative methods
To prevent this disease, it is recommended:
- effective warm-up and regular strength training: carried out reasonably, they are aimed at improving the strength qualities of muscle groups, strengthen the tendons of the elbow zone, counteract overwork when playing tennis;
- regular massage, including the main techniques: kneading, stroking, rubbing;
- the use of warming gels and ointments;
- visiting the sauna - a method that effectively affects injured tendons; increased temperature causes the appearance of new capillaries that increase metabolic processes in an injured elbow;
- Vitaminization of the body, required to activate metabolic processes at the tissue and cellular levels; Vitamin complexes such as Unicap, Centrum, and Vitrum are effective.
Hardening procedures for tendon diseases are extremely contraindicated. This can cause a prolonged spasm of the vessels than delay the cure for an indefinite period.