Tennis Elbow or Lateral Epicondylitis or Extensor Tendionpathy all refer to the same condition, but it is the last name that is most appropriate. Extensor tendinopathy or Tennis Elbow is due to an overuse syndrome of the wrist extensor muscles, which are located on the outside of the forearm.
Due to faulty movement patterns of the arm, overused muscles, an awkward sitting shoulder blade or a neck condition, weakness may develop and affect the shoulder, elbow and wrist.
Symptoms, Signs, and Diagnosis of Tennis Elbow
Tennis Elbow symptoms, the pain initially occurs in the extensor tendons when the wrist is extended against resistance (eg, as in manual screw driving or hitting a backhand shot with a racket). Pain can extend from the lateral epicondyle to the mid forearm; with time, subperiosteal hemorrhage, calcification, spur formation on the lateral epicondyle, and, most importantly, tendon degeneration can occur.
Pain along the common extensor tendon when the fingers are extended against resistance and the elbow is held straight is diagnostic.
Tennis Elbow Case Study 1:
A 51 year old patient presented with weakness and burning feeling in her right forearm and additional pain radiating into her upper arm.
Activities that aggravated her pain were grasping objects, holding toothbrush, lifting arm overhead, turning key in lock and resistance against finger straightening.
She was diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis / tennis elbow.
Within 3 weeks of Sports Chiropractic treatment, all the activities that aggravated, were no longer aggravating and were within normal limits.
4 weeks after initial presentation she was ironing and she performed this for 3 hours , she had reported being unable to iron previously due to pain and disability.
On a questionnaire for pain and disability (where 80 is the best score and 0 is the lowest score) she had scored 34/80 on initial presentation. 2 weeks later, she scored 79/80, a marked improvement in function and a decrease in pain.
For help with your sports injuries, make an appointment with Dr. Ari Mihailidis on 03 9432 4644
