Tennis elbow is a real clinical entity otherwise known as lateral epicondylitis. It is a pathology which involves the tendons of the wrist extensors as they join the humerus up around the elbow. The true tennis elbow is characterised initially by inflammation of the tendon which then progresses onto ‘degeneration’ of the tendon. Most of these conditions that involve ‘white tissues’ such as tendons take a long long time to heal as the blood supply is poor and healing rates are notoriously slow. I am seeing two patients at the moment, one has had the problem 9 months and the other 3 months. True tennis elbow tends to target not just tennis players but anyone who occupationally uses grip strength a lot. Typical occupations include carpenters, painters, mothers of new born children and weight lifters. The main long term treatment aim is the same as the other tendon degeneration injuries such as Achilles and patella tendons – eccentric loading of the tendon.
Comments