Tennis Elbow Treatment - Is There A Quick Fix To Cure Tennis Elbow?

What causes tennis elbow? Is there an ideal tennis elbow treatment? These questions often cross my mind when I play tennis as no one is immune to this annoying problem. Tennis can't rival football or skiing down the Alps as far as the frequency of injuries goes. But every year, more tennis players are seeking care for this disorder.

Tennis elbow is not the exclusive problem of tennis players. Dentists, carpenters, window cleaners, pianists and gardeners often complain of aching elbows. So do politicians who shake 10,000 hands. And one orthopedic surgeon developed this disease by twisting his elbow while performing a spinal fusion. This condition can occur in any activity that requires gripping.

It's the backhand shot that's the main offender for tennis players. It doesn't matter whether players use wood or metal rackets, nylon or gut strings. Rather, it's the size of the grip that makes the difference. Players who used a small grip experienced the greatest discomfort.

Tennis elbow occurs more frequently in older players. However, it does not respect ability. Both weekend hackers and professionals get it.

The million dollar question is what is the best tennis elbow treatment? One point is certain: there's no general agreement among orthopedic surgeons on the ideal treatment. This is partly because it depends on whether the doctor is treating a "patient or an impatient." That's why some doctors have a "menu" of therapies.

The first recommendation is usually to cut back on tennis activity. If it's the backhand that's causing the pain, develop a two-handed backhand shot.

It's most important to control inflammation in the acute stage. Rehabilitation usually isn't started until you have a quiet, cool elbow.

But how do you calm this inflammatory response? Some use non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NASIDS) to cool the elbow. Other doctors routinely inject cortisone as the first line of defense for both patient and impatient patients, as it rapidly cools the inflamed tendons. But it may cause severe pain in the elbow for 24 hours.

Ultrasound and electrical stimulation of the elbow are sometimes used as a tennis elbow treatment with varying degrees of success. It is primarily used for patients who are not getting any better and who are pressing to return to tennis.

So when should you return to tennis if you have an aching elbow? Most doctors advocate waiting until there's no tenderness over the elbow and no pain during exercises. Sprain an ankle and it's prudent to rest it as much as possible while healing takes place. The same principle holds for inflamed tendons in the elbow. But in the real world, doctors admit it's often the player who decides when he or she returns to the court.

Can tennis players prevent this injury? A program of strengthening exercises makes sense for tennis elbow treatment, but there's no human scientific data to back it up.