Elbow Tendinitis & Physical Therapy

Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are the two most common forms of elbow tendinitis. These conditions develop over time from repetitive motions that may stress and strain the tendon attaching the muscles of the arm to the elbow.

Types of Elbow Tendinitis

• Tennis elbow, a chronic condition, affects the lateral epicondyle on the outer part of the arm because of excessive rotation. Golfer's elbow, also a chronic condition, affects the inside of the elbow near the forearm on the medial epicondyle. Both of these conditions may cause pain and tenderness to the injured area. Swelling may be present but is usually not significant. There may also be weakness down the arm to the hand.

Causes

• These conditions are common in people who participate in racket and other sports in which the arm often has to twist or rotate. It is also possible to develop tendinitis as a result of rheumatoid arthritis.
  The tendons attach to muscles that give the elbow stability and allow it to move through its wide range of motion.Repeated stress on the tendon during activity causes the tissue sheath surrounding the tendon to wear. It may develop microscopic tears. In some cases, the tearing can grow with continued activity, creating a more painful and severe problem.

Pain Reduction

• The first step with elbow tendinitis is to rest the elbow and give it time to heal itself. Ice and anti-inflammatory medicine will help reduce the swelling and the pain. An elbow brace providing external support for the elbow not only helps to prevent further injury during any continued activity, but also compresses the area to reduce swelling. It is important to ice the elbow after any activity to prevent swelling from returning or increasing. Please note that the swelling in the elbow may not be visible. But internal swelling within the joint can lead to more pain. It is best to assume swelling is present. Ice will not harm you if there is no swelling.

Physical Therapy Workouts

• Rehabilitating the elbow through physical therapy involves both flexibility and strength exercises. The goal is to increase the joint's ability to withstand the forces it undergoes. Stretching needs to become a daily routine for the upper arm and forearm. To build strength, therapists will guide patients through a series of bicep curls and tricep extensions. The therapist will also impart a regimen of flexor and extensor muscle work which involves wrist curls, ball squeezes and finger extensions.

Additional Physical Therapy Options

• If you have a severe tendinitis condition, it may be necessary to have a corticosteroid injection. This is a shot directly into the joint around the tendon to reduce swelling. Having too many injections is risky and can lead to tendon degeneration and possible rupture. An alternative to the injection is a topical corticosteroid. Your physical therapist may use an electric current to help the skin absorb the ointment. This is more effective than simply rubbing the area with a cream.