Tennis elbow is a common cause of inflammation and pain in the area below your elbow. This condition can be excruciating, especially when gripping the racket. The most common causes of tennis elbow include:
- Exercise-induced tendinitis.
- Repetitive motion injury (overuse).
- Improper grip or wrist alignment. Pregnancy-related hormone increase.
Gardening, swimming, and playing sports also contribute to developing tennis elbow. Another possible cause could be stress or anxiety, which has been shown to worsen symptoms significantly after ten days of regular use.
- Tennis:
If you are a tennis player with any grip or wrist alignment issues, this can cause tennis elbow. The tennis elbow is the most common cause of injury in the game of tennis.
It occurs in around 10% of all tennis players. The inside of your forearm may suffer from overuse and be susceptible to pain.
While playing tennis, you must have a proper grip on your racket and keep your wrist aligned with your elbow straight. If it is not aligned correctly, you will feel pain outside your forearm after each stroke.
If you want to get rid of this pain, you should work on strengthening the muscles in your forearm using various exercises such as reverse wrist curls or arm flexion.
- Racquetball:
Racquetball is a game of hitting a ball with a racquet. A large amount of wrist torque and rotary energy is used during this game. As a result, your wrist will turn outwards when you are playing it, resulting in pain outside your forearm. To solve this problem, you should strengthen your wrist and elbow flexors through regular exercises such as reverse wrist curls and arm flexion. Wrist roll machines are also handy to strengthen the muscles that the racket hits against to prevent pain later on.
- Squash:
Squash is a game of hitting a ball against a wall using the racquet. It requires great strength in your wrist and forearms. Using too much wrist torque or applying excessive rotation while you play can lead to pain in your outer forearm. This problem can be overcome by including stretching exercises such as palm-up and thumb-down stretches into your training regimen.
- Fencing:
It could be a very strenuous sport involving using your arm and wrist. It is essential to practice proper technique and not release your outermost finger while making contact with the opponent. You can develop pain outside your forearm if you make a mistake during the bout. The same precautions mentioned above can help alleviate this pain as well. If facing any significant issues, you should contact a professional like St. Petersburg Pain Control Clinic.
- Swimming:
The act of swimming involves regular movement of both arms and hands, causing repetitive strain on the muscles that have to be used for holding the water in place. The pain will vary according to the distance you swim and the number of strokes you use. Therefore, it is essential to be careful while swimming. Exercises such as stretching, reverse wrist curls, and arm flexion help prevent this pain.
Tennis elbow is a common problem that affects people of all ages. The cause is similar in every case and varies in intensity. While some cases of tennis elbow can be prevented through proper training, many others are incurable. In such cases, it is essential to seek medical attention immediately to get the best possible treatment.