Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that can result from overuse of the muscles and tendons in the elbow. Tennis elbow is often linked to repeated motions of the wrist and arm.

The pain of tennis elbow can travel from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist. Pain and weakness can make it hard to:

• Shake hands or grip an object
• Turn a doorknob
• Hold a coffee cup

Tennis elbow is often linked to overuse and muscle strain. Sometimes, repeated tensing of the forearm muscles that are used to straighten and raise the hand and wrist triggers the symptoms. This can cause a breakdown of the fibres in the tendon.

Factors that can increase the risk of tennis elbow include:

• Age: most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 60
• Work: People who have jobs that involve repeating motions of the wrist and arm are more likely to develop tennis elbow. These include plumbers, painters, and carpenters
• Certain sports: Playing racket sports increases the risk of tennis elbow. Not having good form or using poor equipment increases the risk even more. Playing more than two hours a day also increases the risk.

Chiropractors may help with the symptoms of tennis elbow using manual therapies and addressing the root cause of the pain. To learn more, contact our friendly team to see how we can assist you today.