Tennis/Golfers elbow
What is it?
‘Tennis elbow’ affects the outside part of the elbow where the tendons which move your wrist and fingers arise from. ‘Golfer’s elbow’ is similar but affects the inside part of the elbow. Although, these conditions are called ‘tennis’ and ‘golfer’s’ elbow the majority of patients do not participate in either of these sports! If you have this condition you will have pain at one or both of these locations, pain and weakness with gripping activities.
What is it?
‘Tennis elbow’ affects the outside part of the elbow where the tendons which move your wrist and fingers arise from. ‘Golfer’s elbow’ is similar but affects the inside part of the elbow. Although, these conditions are called ‘tennis’ and ‘golfer’s’ elbow the majority of patients do not participate in either of these sports! If you have this condition you will have pain at one or both of these locations, pain and weakness with gripping activities.
What causes it?
The condition arises from microtears from the tendons at each location and a process called angiofibroblastic hyperplasia.
What happens if you do nothing?
Tennis and golfer’s elbow can sometimes improve spontaneously with time if the aggravating activities are ceased.
What happens if you do nothing?
Tennis and golfer’s elbow can sometimes improve spontaneously with time if the aggravating activities are ceased.
What treatments are there?
The majority of the time these conditions can treated with non-operative measures with stretching and physical therapy. Clasp braces can be helpful. Steroid injections are undoubtably helpful for short-term relief although there is some evidence from Scandinavian population studies that they may make things worse in the long-term. Platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) injections and extra-corporal shockwave therapies can also be helpful. For cases which do not settle with non-operative measures surgery repairing the damaged area can help.