Tennis Elbow (or Lateral Epicondylitis) affects nearly half of all tennis players at some point, although tennis actually accounts for less than 5 percent of all reported cases.

Golfer’s Elbow (or Medial Epicondylitis) is similar to tennis elbow but pain and tenderness are felt on the inside (medial aspect) of the elbow, on or around the joint's bony prominence.

Symptoms Of Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow

• Recurring pain on the outside of the upper forearm just below the bend of the elbow; occasionally, pain radiates down the arm towards the wrist.
   
• Pain caused by lifting rotating or bending the arm or grasping even light objects such as a coffee cup.
   
• Difficulty extending the forearm fully (because of inflamed muscles, tendons and ligaments).
   
• Pain that typically lasts for 6 to 12 weeks; the discomfort can continue for as little as 3 weeks or as long as several years.

Tendonitis and Elbow Pain

Tendons are tough bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. Repetitive activities and overuse can injure tendons and lead to inflammation, pain, and impaired function. This is called tendonitis. Although the most common cause of tendonitis is overuse, it can also be caused by other conditions including inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

Tendonitis is a common problem. The risk of getting tendonitis increases with age and is higher in people who routinely perform activities that require repetitive movement that increases stress on susceptible tendons. Tendonitis can affect many different tendons in the body. If tendonitis is experienced around the elbow it is termed Epicondylitis, depending where on the elbow it is located. It is commonly termed Tennis Elbow (outer tendons) or Golfer’s Elbow (inner tendons). Although these terms are used, epicondylitis may be caused by a variety of sports or work-related activities that involve heavy use of the wrist and forearm muscles.

Epicondylitis most often affects the dominant arm (e.g. the right arm in people who are right-handed). A person may feel localised elbow pain that radiates into the upper arm or down to the forearm; they may also experience weakness of the forearm. Symptoms of epicondylitis may occur suddenly or can develop gradually over time. Once they appear, symptoms are often persistent, although pain may come and go in some people.

Focus on resting the injured tendon to allow healing, using ice to decrease inflammation, and later promoting muscle strength. In most clients, this is extremely difficult, as it is often as a result of working activity. Elbow problems are readily resolved with Myosteopractic, sometimes in only a couple of sessions. In some cases, it can be a more lengthy process, particularly if the body has adapted to the repetitive activity.

Prevention should involve warm-up and cool-down exercises before and after any sporting activity, this includes stretching the muscles in the arm. Use appropriately-sized equipment. Handles and grips that are too big or too small can put more stress on the elbow. Evaluate technique of the activity, as this may be contributing to the problem.