Physical Therapy Techniques for Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is an injury that results from using the elbow too much in a way that puts too much stress and strain on the lateral epicondyle. The strain causes the sheath around the tendon to wear, leading to lesions and tears that can be microscopic or extensive. Physical therapy is essential in helping your elbow heal and prevent future injury.

Swelling Reduction

• If you have tennis elbow, ice will become your new best friend. When the condition is at its worst, you should be icing your elbow for twenty minutes every two hours. As your condition improves, you should ice your elbow after major activity including at the end of every physical therapy session. Ice massage may also be utilized in physical therapy. Ice massage uses a large ice cube to massage the area for five to seven minutes.
  Another way to reduce the swelling around the tendon is to take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. This will reduce the pain and swelling.
  Rest, compression and elevation are also good methods to reduce swelling or prevent more swelling from coming into the elbow. If your tennis elbow is severe, you may need a cortisone shot in the elbow. While this is an effective anti-inflammatory method and reduces pain, you should not have too many cortisone shots as this can weaken the tendon, leading to a rupture.

Exercises

• Part of having a healthy joint is making sure it is both strong and flexible. You need both to prevent injury. Strength provides support against stress while flexibility resilience to pulling and tugging. Any exercises should be done gradually, increasing the stretch or weight.
  Stretches are easy to do and can be done anywhere. Do them in the morning and evening as well as before and after any activity. Holding you arm in front of you, pull your fingers up to the sky and hold. Then pull them down toward your toes. Bring your arm behind your head, bending at the elbow. Hold a towel in your hand and grab it, pulling gently with your other hand from behind your buttocks.
  To build strength in your elbow, do bicep curls and tricep extensions. You also want to perform wrist curls as long as this does not cause any more pain. Squeezing a ball or resistance gripper is also a good way to build forearm strength.

Other Physical Therapy Components

• If you have a serious tennis elbow condition, your physical therapist may use other methods to help reduce the pain and heal the elbow. Cortisone cream may be rubbed on the elbow with an electric current pulsed over it to help the skin absorb the cream more effectively. This is an alternative to cortisone shots, which can be done more frequently. Ultrasound and heat may also help the elbow to heal.
  Your physical therapist may also provide you with an orthotic brace or strap to use while performing activities that cause the problem. They may also recommend consulting with experts in the sport or activity stressing your elbow. Technique changes may greatly reduce the problem and prevent future flareups.