Summer is right around the corner, and it’s time to pull out your summer activity equipment. Many will swim, bike and run, but a great majority will also get out their golf clubs and tennis rackets to enjoy some physical activity during our short summer months.
As tennis (and other racket sports such as pickle ball) and golf are popular sports within the Muskoka region, we wanted to discuss two common elbow injuries: Tennis elbow and Golfer’s elbow. Many people have heard of these injuries, but may be confused as to how they differ or may even question how they could have developed this injury without participating in either of the sports.
Both tennis elbow, lateral epicondylitis, and golfer’s elbow, medial epicondylitis, are injuries to the tendons that attach your forearm muscles to the elbow; in this case the (medial or lateral) epicondyle. Pain on the outside of the elbow can be attributed to lateral epicondylitis; this is where the tendons of the muscles that bend your wrist backwards and straighten your fingers attach. On the contrary, golfer’s elbow affects the tendinous attachment of the muscles that bend your fingers and flex your wrist on the inside of the elbow. Both of these injuries usually are the result of repetitive strain.
Common symptoms of these condition are:
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- Sharp pain directly on the outside (for tennis elbow) or inside (for golfer’s elbow) of the elbow with activity
- Aching in the forearm at rest or with activity
- Pain and/or weakness with gripping
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- Contrary to the names, you don’t have to be a tennis or golf player to develop either of these injuries. Any activity, sport, or job that requires repetitive wrist extension or flexion can cause lateral or medial epicondylitis, respectively. Even working a relatively inactive job, such as administrative work, can be a causal factor due to wrist positioning with mousing and keyboarding.Both of these conditions can be self-limiting and very painful but can be well-managed with rest and proper rehabilitation, eliminating any long-term disability. Depending on the severity of the individual’s condition, recovery can take weeks to months.There are ways to self-manage, and in some cases even prevent tennis and golfer’s elbow of which some are listed below. However, seeking rehabilitative care from your local physiotherapist or other health care practitioner is recommended to ensure proper diagnosis and management of any painful condition.
- Management:
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- Rest: Minimize painful activities.
- Positioning & Bracing: Keep a neutral wrist and/or use a brace for activity.
- Stretching wrist extensors and flexors:
- Extensor stretch (tennis elbow, top photo): Hold affected arm out straight with palm down, pull the affected wrist down to point fingers towards the ground using the unaffected hand, hold 20s. Repeat 3x. Perform 2-3x/day
- Flexor stretch (golfer’s elbow, bottom photo): Hold affected arm out straight with palm down, pull the wrist of your affected side up to point fingers toward the sky using the unaffected hand, hold 20s. Repeat 3x. Perform 2-3x/day
- Ball Squeeze (grip strength): Use a stress ball in your affected hand. Gently squeeze, holding for ~5seconds. Repeat 10x.
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For more information or to book an appointment call 705-380-3312 or visit the website . Surge Physiotherapy is located at 33 King William Street, Suite 204, in Huntsville. Office hours are flexible with evening appointments available (3x/week). Email – [email protected]Stephanie is a bilingual, Registered Physiotherapist with the College of Physiotherapist of Ontario and the Canadian Physiotherapy Association who is committed to providing a hands on, personalized approach to physiotherapy.
Stephanie, a native to the Huntsville community, developed a passion for health and wellness during her youth while competing in cross-country running, nordic skiing, and track and field. Stephanie has always had a strong caring nature and fell in love with the physiotherapy profession while volunteering at a physiotherapy clinic during high school and university.
Stephanie continued to build on her passion for health care by attending McGill University and completing her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology. During her Masters in Health Science of Physiotherapy, completed at the University of Ottawa, she completed internships in orthopaedic clinics, hospitals, home care, and neurology centres.
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