Lateral Epicondylitis & Tennis Elbow Treatment In Fort Myers, FL

Is Tennis Elbow Keeping You Off The Court?

Find Out How You Can Get Back Out There Quickly!

We See A Steady Stream Of Patients Complaining Of Tennis Elbow…

Here at Back in Motion Sport and Spine Physical Therapy, we are all too familiar with lateral epicondylitis, otherwise known as “tennis elbow”. After all, the Fort Myers area is ground zero for tennis.

Ideal weather conditions, an abundance of courts, and tennis clubs make it a natural for residents of all ages.

In Fort Myers alone, there are 164 tennis court locations. Each of these locations has numerous individual courts that total in the thousands.

But there’s a painful downside to all this activity…

As you may or may not know, tennis elbow is closely related to its “sister” condition, golfer’s elbow.

The distinct difference is that tennis elbow occurs on the outside of the elbow, while golfer’s elbow flares up on the inside of the elbow.

Are rest and ice your only treatment options for tennis elbow?

When tennis elbow strikes, it can put an immediate halt to your court time. But, if you’ve been told that rest is the only way to deal with it, it’s time to look at other treatment options.

We realize you’re eager to get back out there. After all, every day on the sidelines means a loss of conditioning and timing. Not good.

The more informed you are about tennis elbow, the better your chances of avoiding it. Let’s take a closer look at what you need to know…

How common is tennis eblow?

The statistics say that 50% of all tennis players will suffer from the condition at some point in their career.

But tennis isn’t the only cause. That is just what it’s called because it tends to impact tennis players in disproportionate numbers.

Across the entire population, tennis elbow is thought to affect roughly 1-3% of the population.

As a general rule, most cases occur in people between the ages of 30 and 50 years of age.

What are the symptoms of tennis elbow?

Obviously, pain is the No. 1 symptom.

It will appear on the outside of the elbow, just below the point where you bend the joint. The pain can radiate down the arm and towards the wrist.

The primary pain point is very specific, pressing on the area where the tendons of the forearm attach to the elbow will likely be extremely tender.

There can also be swelling in and around the elbow as well.

Pain can be triggered by several movements including:

Writing
Flexing or extending the wrist
Grabbing or carrying large or small diameter objects
Rotating the forearm, for example, when turning a doorknob.

As a general rule, you won’t experience tingling or numbness down the arm with tennis elbow, but you may experience considerable muscle weakness. This can be extremely frustrating.

When the pain is at its peak, dropping items from your grip can happen easily.

Throbbing in the joint while at rest is also quite common. And something as simple as making a fist can be uncomfortable.

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Why is this area so commonly injured?

As it turns out, the elbow is a pretty complex joint…even if we don’t think about it that way.

The powerful tendons that move the forearm, wrist, and fingers all meet at the elbow. If that wasn’t enough, the large muscles of the upper arm, the triceps and biceps, cross the joint from above.

This means a lot is going on in there!

The muscles of the upper arm usually don’t cause many problems, but the complex movements required of the wrist and fingers make this attachment point more of an issue.

So what are the most common causes of tennis elbow?

Even though the joint is somewhat complex, it is usually not prone to injury. The elbow is pretty darn stable.

However, repeated incorrect movements of the arm can be the culprit. When repeated often enough, these movements can lead to “microtears” in the tendons. For example, this can happen when striking the ball with a racket improperly.

This results in irritation and inflammation which equals pain.

Tennis is not the only cause of injury, however.

Any injury or overuse of the powerful extensor muscles on the top of your forearm can lead to tennis elbow.

Here are some typical examples:

Using a knife to cut through food or something similar
Using scissors
Any high-volume throwing activity
Swimming
Any job or task that requires repetitive grabbing, flexing, extending, or turning of the wrist; examples include gardening, typing, or even prolonged wrist flexion while grabbing the handlebars of a bike.

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How do you know when it’s time to see tennis elbow treatment?

Most people immediately take over-the-counter pain relievers when a tennis elbow strikes. This makes sense. However, relying on these pain relievers for the long-term can be a health concern.

Pain-relieving drugs, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can cause a breakdown of the stomach lining (ulcers), or even damage to the liver or kidney when used for long periods or in too high a dosage.

Therefore, if you take pain relievers and they don’t put an end to your pain, you should give us a call.

If the pain in your elbow lasts longer than 14 days, it’s time to take action and set up an appointment with us.

Also, if you can’t bend your elbow or if your elbow is inflamed or looks very swollen, it is recommended you give us a call.

How do you know when it’s time to see tennis elbow treatment?

Now that we know the causes and symptoms of tennis elbow, what can you do about it?

We’ve already talked about rest. If you don’t mind putting the clubs away for a while, that could help, but if you’re eager to get back out there, here’s are just some of the pieces of the plan we’ll put together for you.

– Specialized flexibility work

– Specialized strength work

– Proper recovery planning

– Ultrasound

– Laser therapy

– Massage therapy

– Dry Needling

– Active Release Technique

All of these tools, used as part of a complete treatment plan, will dramatically accelerate your recovery…getting you pain-free and back on the course ASAP!

As we know, every person is unique. As a result, your recovery planning has to be built around you, your lifestyle, your strengths, and your limitations…everything.

If you need tennis elbow treatment in Fort Myer’s, FL area we need to talk.

We understand golf and the tennis mindset.

We want to get you back out there as quickly and safely as possible.

We invite you to call us right away to set up a free consultation or to make an appointment.

Our expert staff will work with you to design the right plan for you!

You can reach us at 239-610-4945

Don’t spend another round in pain or being left behind at the clubhouse.

Call today: 239-610-4945

Come to our Fort Myers or Cape Coral office locations so you know you’ll receive the very best treatment.

ARE YOU READY TO GET BACK IN MOTION WITH OUR TENNIS ELBOW TREATMENT IN FORT MYERS, FL?

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