Tennis Elbow – What it is and How to Treat It

Lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is a common problem among many tennis players. It occurs when an elbow is forced into too much stress. This can occur as a result of playing tennis. It can cause inflammation of the elbow and slight tendon tears in the elbow. While it can be tough, tennis elbow can be treated.

There are some symptoms of tennis elbow to watch for. They include tenderness around the inflamed part of the elbow and acute pains that occur during stresses in the elbow. While the pain of tennis elbow can be light at first, it can occur suddenly.

Other symptoms include difficulty with holding and squeezing things and stiffness in the forearm muscles. Soreness and stiffness in the elbow and point softness around the medial and lateral elbow muscles are also common symptoms of tennis elbow.

In some cases tennis elbow can be caused as a result of the degeneration of nerves in the elbow. This can occur from repeated use, but old age can cause it too. Poor blood circulation in the area can cause tennis elbow too. This means that important nutrients for healing like oxygen are not present in the area. The tendons will deteriorate as a result and tear up in small areas.

Most people who get tennis elbow are over the age of thirty five. Also, both men and women are equally likely to get tennis elbow from repeated elbow use. Blue collar workers who work in construction and other manual labor professions can get tennis elbow, and athletes like tennis players and golfers can get tennis elbow. In fact, about a third of all tennis players are likely to get tennis elbow during their careers.

Tennis elbow can be treated by avoiding stress and resting the elbow. Immobilization is needed in more severe cases of tennis elbow. Anti-inflammation drugs like cortisone can be used as well. However, if cortisone shots do not work after a few shots then they should no longer can used.

Operations are not needed for tennis elbow, but a change of physical lifestyles is needed to prevent tennis elbow from occurring again. Anti-inflammation drugs can help, but changes in equipment for tennis can be used too.

For tennis players recovering from tennis elbow changes are needed. Playing on softer courts can reduce the likeliness of tennis elbow recurrence. Also, an analysis of tennis strokes should be used to see if any changes in how the person hits the ball are needed. An elbow clasp can also help, as it can reduce pain in the elbow and help reduce the pull on certain muscles and tendons.

Simple elbow exercises can be useful as well. However, the exercises should not cause any pain and should not be used if any additional pain occurs. The tendons need to be toughened in these exercises.

Tennis elbow can be difficult and it can happen to people who don’t play tennis. However, tennis elbow can be easily handled and treated, and with the right treatments it doesn’t have to come back.

France takes 2-1 lead over Canada in Davis Cup

France's Julien Benneteau, left, and partner Michael Llodra celebrate after defeating Canada's Daniel Nestor and Milos Raonic in straight sets during a Davis Cup tennis doubles match in Vancouver, British Columbia, on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012.

Tennis: Kuznetsova, Zvonareva win doubles title

MELBOURNE: Unseeded Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva won the Australian Open women's doubles crown on Friday, coming from behind to beat Italian pair Roberta Vinci and Sara Errani in three sets.

Belarus native Olga Govortsova wins first singles semifinal at Dow Corning Tennis Classic

The singles final is slated for 1 p.m. Sunday at the Midland Community Tennis Center, followed by the doubles final.

Thien wins tennis doubles title in New Zealand

Vietnam’s Nguyen Hoang Thien and Hong Kong's Wong Chun Hun won the International Tennis Federation (ITF)'s Under-18 Grade 3 competition in Auckland, New Zealand on Friday.

M. Tennis. Stamchev Breaks AU Doubles Record as Tigers Defeat No. 18 UNC, 4-1

Auburn senior Alex Stamchev broke the school record for career doubles wins and provided the clinching point as the 20th-ranked Auburn men's tennis team defeated 18th-ranked North Carolina on Monday, 4-1, in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend Championship Match at Georgia Tech's Bill Moore Tennis Center.

Tennis: Russian joy in doubles

Russian duo Svetlana Kuznetsova and Vera Zvonareva put their respective singles disappointments behind them by taking out the Australian Open women's doubles title on Friday.

USA dump out Federer's Swiss in Davis Cup tennis

Roger Federer's miserable return to Davis Cup first-round duty after an eight-year absence was completed when the United States knocked out Switzerland to reach the quarter-finals.

Tennis: Mattek-Sands, Tecau win mixed doubles

MELBOURNE - American Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Horia Tecau of Romania won the Australian Open mixed doubles title on Sunday, beating Indian-Russian pairing Leander Paes and Elena Vesnina in a match tie-break.

Tennis: Spain, Argentina progress

Defending champions Spain and 2011 runners-up Argentina both wrapped up their Davis Cup world group ties.

Hideaway Beach holding doubles tourney

The 2nd Annual Hideaway Beach Club Open Doubles Tournament is March 2-4 at the Hideaway Beach Tennis Club.