| If you are a tennis player you've probably suffered | | | | or even a person who's spent a weekend doing |
| from tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is brought on by | | | | "do-it-yourself" projects around the house. Examples |
| repetitive stress in the tendons of the wrist extensor | | | | might be using hammers, screwdrivers or heavy |
| muscles, just below the elbow. The injury is known as | | | | electric or gas powered tools. |
| "Tennis Elbow" (technically lateral epicondylitis) because | | | | When the elbow pain is so bad you have a hard time |
| nearly all cases are caused by the game of tennis. | | | | opening a door its time to visit your orthopedic |
| For tennis players lateral epicondylitis results from: | | | | specialist. Your doctor will normally gave a cortisone |
| * A poor backhand technique in tennis | | | | (steroid) shot in the elbow and tell you to take 2 Aleve |
| * A racket grip that is too small | | | | (anti-inflammatory) pills twice daily. This is the standard |
| * Strings which are too tight | | | | treatment for tennis elbow and it's generally quite |
| * Playing with wet, heavy balls | | | | effective. |
| Lateral epicondylitis can also be a result of overuse or | | | | There are several good tennis elbow braces to use |
| repetitive strain caused by repeated extension | | | | when your are recovering.. A properly fitting tennis |
| (bending back) of the wrist against resistance. Besides | | | | elbow brace will reduce most of the pain and can |
| various racket sports, it also be common after periods | | | | prevent further damage. There are several tennis |
| of excessive wrist use in day-to-day life. My current | | | | elbow braces that can be purchased. Here are a few |
| case of tennis elbow was due to an over zealous | | | | of the most popular: |
| racket stringer that changed to different strings and a | | | | 1) The Aircast pneumatic tennis elbow armband is my |
| higher string tension without telling me. | | | | personal favorite. It utilizes a single preinflated air cell to |
| Signs of lateral epicondylitis are: | | | | concentrate compression on extensor muscle for |
| * Pain about just down from bony area at the outside | | | | more support and less constriction. This is a very |
| of the elbow | | | | durable brace and will last for years. I even keep an |
| * Weakness in your wrist with difficulty doing simple | | | | extra in my workshop for when hammers or heavy |
| tasks such as opening a door handle or shaking hands | | | | tools are utilized. |
| with someone | | | | 2) The Band It tennis elbow brace was Designed by |
| * Pain on the outside of the elbow when the hand is | | | | world renowned orthopedic surgeon and sports |
| bent back (extended) at the wrist against resistance | | | | medicine specialist, Donald Fareed, M.D. It focuses |
| * Pain on the outside of of the elbow when trying to | | | | compression on the extensor muscle like the Aircast, |
| straighten the fingers against resistance | | | | however it utilizes plastic insert attached to an |
| There's two ways you might notice the start of lateral | | | | adjustable strap. One of my friends has used this |
| epicondylitis: | | | | tennis elbow brace effectively for many years. |
| 1) Sudden Onset: Sudden onset of lateral epicondylitis | | | | 3) The most notable elbow brace available may be |
| occurs in a single instance of exertion such as a late | | | | the Bauerfeind EpiTrain elbow support. This brace is a |
| back hand when the extensors in the wrist become | | | | unique knitted elbow support that incorporates two |
| strained. This most probably corresponds to | | | | anatomically contoured silcone inserts. These silicone |
| micro-tearing of the tendon. | | | | inserts leave the elbow bones pressure free and |
| 2) Late Onset: This usually takes place within 24-72 | | | | provides an intermittent compression to the soft tissue |
| hours after a period of unaccustomed wrist extension. | | | | of the elbow joint which leads to increased circulation. |
| Examples might be a tennis player with a new racket | | | | |