Lateral Epicondylalgia (Tennis Elbow)

What is Lateral Epicondylalgia?
Lateral epicondylalgia, also known as tennis elbow, is a common overuse injury of the elbow. Approximately 40% of people will experience tennis elbow at some point in their life.

Tennis elbow involves the wrist extensors of the forearm and is often seen amongst athletes and the general population. This condition is characterized by degenerative changes of the tendon, often caused be repetitive activity that can lead to pain and disability. Workers in manual occupations are at an increased risk of developing tennis elbow due to the nature of the work. Unfortunately, without modifications and treatment, the condition can worsen over time and can last for months.

What are common symptoms and pain patterns?
– Pain on the outside part of the elbow (lateral epicondyle)
– A history of overload/overuse activities
– Gradual onset of pain and reduction of function
– Pain with gripping and picking up objects

How do we manage the condition?
An accurate diagnosis is key in order to provide appropriate management. A physiotherapist can help to diagnose the condition through clinical reasoning and imaging if indicated. A few key aspects to managing tennis elbow are activity modification and load management. A physiotherapist can help to diagnose the condition and provid appropriate advice, techniques, and exercises to help reduce pain and improve function. Using evidence-based practice, physiotherapists may select exercise, joint mobilization, taping, dry needling, neural mobilization, and soft tissue work as forms of therapy. Managing this condition early can help to improve longer-term outcomes

For consultations contact us at our Burnaby Office, one of our experienced physiotherapist will help formulate a treatment plan to help you get back to full function. Appointments are available Monday-Saturday and can be scheduled over the phone during office hours or online at all time go to https://northburnabyphysio.janeapp.com/##booknow to schedule your appointment today.

Dimitrios S. (2016). Lateral elbow tendinopathy: Evidence of management. World
journal of orthopedics, 7(8), 463-6. doi:10.5312/wjo.v7.i8.463
Gruchow, H. W., & Pelletier, D. (1979). An epidemiologic study of tennis elbow Incidence,
recurrence, and effectiveness of prevention strategies. The American Journal of Sports
Medicine, 7(4), 234-238.