Tennis Elbow and Golfers Elbow
What is Tennis Elbow and Golfer's Elbow?
Tennis elbow is the most common and is found along the top of the elbow at or near the bony prominence felt if the arm is bent and resting on a surface.
Golfers elbow is found underneath along the bottom of the elbow on or close to the knobbly part of the bone.
Symptoms
It is very common in the dominant arm but can occur in the non-dominant arm occasionally.
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Pain experienced when gripping i.e cleaning teeth, shaking hands with someone or holding a coffee cup.
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Pain on palpation of bony prominence.
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Pain up or down the arm.
Causes
Tennis and Golfer's elbow can be seen commonly in people using the arms repetitively in sport e.g. motorbike riders, or gripping sports like tennis, fencing or in people who use their arms a lot with their daily work e.g. painters, builders.
It may be the result of damaged muscle tissues that flex or extend your wrist and fingers or degenerative changes in the muscle tissue at the bony insertion. Injury is usually at the site where the muscles attach to the bone.
Treatment
Lithotripsy strength shockwaves can provide a pain relieving effect, whilst also stimulating blood vessel growth and collagen formation to support the body’s healing processes to address the inflammation.
We usually require an x-ray to have been performed prior to treatment. This is to check that there are no other bony or soft tissue problems that may be causing the pain.
Sources and Related Links
In-depth Information
The screening X-ray may show the presence of calcium deposits which develop as a result of the injury. They are not usually the cause of the pain.
The source of the pain is found where the tendon attaches to the bone on either side of the elbow.
Site of injury is commonly where the tendon attaches the muscles of the arm to these bony areas.
Some chronic Golfer’s elbow conditions are associated with degenerative changes in the muscle tissue located at the medial epicondyle.
