Tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the elbow. Overusing the muscles in your forearm that straighten and raise your wrist can cause inflammation at the site where the tendons attach to the lateral epicondyle. Common symptoms include pain on the outside areas of the elbow, which is tender to touch. Pain with using a backhand stroke while playing tennis or with shaking hands, gripping objects or turning a doorknob is often present. Your physician can diagnose tennis elbow by asking questions about your activities and finding where you elbow hurts and what activities make the pain worse.
Treatment consists of rest, ice application and anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen.
Physical therapy may be helpful if the pain is persistent. Occasionally, your physician may recommend an injection of Corticosteroid into the area around the lateral epicondyle. Return to activity is recommended when there is a full range of motion without pain while performing the activities that previously caused discomfort. Usually, the longer symptoms are present to prior to the onset of treatment, the longer it will take to return to the activity. Prevention consists of using proper form with your backhand and having an appropriate sized grips on your racquet.