Is Elbow Tendonitis Causing
Your Elbow Pain?
Elbow Tendonitis is the most common causes of elbow joint pain. Pain from these tendons can make every day activity such as writing, gripping, and even opening a door difficult. It can also keep you from enjoy recreational and athletic activities. What is this condition and what can you do to reduce your tendonitis pain?
What is Elbow Tendonitis?
The elbow is comprised of a group of tendons located on both the medial and lateral aspect of the elbow. The tendons on the medial or inside of the elbow work to flex the fingers and wrist as well as rotate the forearm. On the opposite or lateral aspect of the elbow are the tendons the assist in extending the wrist and fingers. Tendonitis is simply an inflammation of these tendons.
What causes Tendonitis?
The most common cause of tendonitis is overuse. This overuse can be from excessive gripping of a golf club or tennis racquet or spending too much time at the computer. These activities can cause the tendons to work harder than they are accustomed to, resulting in localized inflammation of the tissues. A less frequent source of inflammation to these tendons is trauma to the area such as getting hit by a baseball.
Types of Tendonitis
Elbow tendonitis can occur from the group of tendons on the medial or inner portion of the elbow or the lateral or outside aspect of the elbow. The group of tendons located on the medial side of the elbow helps to flex the wrist and fingers and rotate the forearm from palm up to palm down. Tendonitis of this group of tendons is often referred to as golfer’s elbow. Pain generally occurs with activities involving gripping. The lateral or outer group of tendons can also become inflamed. These tendons help to extend the wrist and fingers and rotate the forearm from palm down to palm up. In the lateral aspect of the elbow, it is more common for the area in which the tendons attach to become inflamed more so then the tendons themselves. This attachment point is called the epicondyle of the elbow, thus the condition is referred to as lateral epicondylitis. Tendonitis of these lateral elbow tendons is also called tennis elbow.
Typical Elbow Treatment
As with all joint related issues, treatment goals include first reducing inflammation, second restoring flexibility, and third restoring strength. Since many elbow issues are related to overuse of the muscles/tendons, restricting painful activity is a key to elbow tendonitis treatment. If a specific sport or activity aggravates the pain, rest from that activity is a must. Another means of helping to rest the painful area is by using an elbow brace, specifically with lateral epicondylitis/tennis elbow. These braces function by minimizing pressure on the muscles of the forearm by taking strain off the epicondyle where the muscles attach.
If use of the computer is a common activity, pain in the lateral elbow can be directly related to wrist position at the computer. As the extensors of the wrist and fingers attach to the lateral aspect of the elbow, repetitive activity of these muscles with typing can perpetuate symptoms. Utilizing a wrist support for the keyboard minimizes the position of wrist extension, reducing the stress on the lateral elbow.
Because of the superficial nature of many of the structures surrounding the elbow, ice massage works well as a means of reducing inflammation. Ice massage is performed by filling a Styrofoam cup with water and freezing it. Then, peel off the rim off the top of the cup, exposing the ice, and leaving the bottom for you to hold. Massage the ice directly over the painful area of the elbow for 5 minutes.
Inflammation can also be reduced with oral or topical anti-inflammatory medications (consult your doctor regarding medications). There are medicated anti-inflammatory creams such as Voltaren that are quite effective in treating these superficial tendon issues. Generally cortisone injections are not recommended into the tendon itself as these medications can weaken the tendon. Sometimes an injection into the local area instead of the tendon itself can be helpful if chronic inflammation continues.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can be an effective means of restoring elbow flexibility and strength. Modalities such as ultrasound, iontophoresis, and electric stimulation can all be helpful in reducing pain and inflammation. Manual soft tissue massage can help to reduce the thickness that accumulates around inflamed tendons. Elbow tendonitis can result in limited soft tissue flexibility. Stretching exercises for the elbow include both wrist flexion and extension stretches. While keeping the elbow straight, hold each stretch for 20 seconds and repeat a few times each.
Strengthening of any previously inflamed tendons or muscles must be done in a pain free manner. As pain is reduced and muscle flexibility is improved, strengthening exercises can be initiated. When performing these strengthening exercises, they must be performed with no pain as pain will only lead to increased inflammation. Wrist flexion strengthening and gripping activities using putty can be helpful for medial tendonitis. Wrist extension and finger extension exercises can help regain lateral elbow strength. Perform 3 sets of 10 repetitions of these exercises, once a day.
Elbow tendonitis can by annoying. Follow these treatment recommendations and you’ll be on the road to reducing your elbow joint pain in no time.
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