The medical term of tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis. This condition generally happens when the muscles in the elbow are burdened by monotonous motions of the arm and the wrist.
Causes and symptoms
People suffering from tennis elbow feel the strains in the muscles when a person uses to hold a racket or ball. However, the tennis elbow doesn’t occur due to playing tennis or any sport in most cases. Instead, any activity that includes a holding and twisting motion leads to this strain.
Tennis elbow normally happens because of repetitive arm movement. Plumbers, carpenters, and painters are particularly susceptible.
Symptoms of tennis elbow vary from person to person and range from minor to severe. A typical symptom involves pain in the arm and soreness near the elbow.
A person notices swelling and burning sensation near the elbow. They also find that their holding ability becomes weaker and feel pain down the arm.
Prolongation repetitive arm movement causes strain making the condition worse.
Remedies for tennis elbow
There are different natural remedies for tennis elbow that you can try to reduce elbow pain, heal quickly, and avoid this problem again.
Exercises
The following exercises for elbow joint pain relief help rehabilitate tennis elbow:
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Wrist turn
To perform this exercise:
Bend the elbow to 90 degrees.
Stretch your hand out, facing up palm.
Twist your wrist around slowly until your palm is facing down.
Hold the spot for 5 seconds.
Repeat this exercise for tennis elbow relief ten times a day.
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Wrist turn with weight
This exercise is the same as the wrist above. But, in this type, the person holds a lightweight, like a small dumbbell or a container of food.
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Wrist lift, palm up
Grip a small amount of weight like a small dumbbell or a small water container.
Fold your elbow at a right angle.
Stretch your hands outwards with the palm facing up.
Fold your wrist up towards the body.
Stay in this position for 5 seconds, then release gradually.
Repeat this home remedies for tennis elbow at least ten times a day.
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Elbow bend
Stand straight with lowering the hands to one side.
Slowly fold the arm up until your hand touches the shoulder.
Stay in this position for 30 seconds.
Repeat this elbow pain home treatment at least ten times a day.
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Wrist extensor stretch
Raise your arm straight, right in front of your body.
With your palm facing down, slowly fold your wrist down.
Using the other hand, slowly pull the hand back near your body.
Stay in this position for 30 seconds.
Stretch your wrist again.
Repeat these natural remedies for tennis elbow twice a day.
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Wrist extensor flex
Raise your arm straight, right in front of your body.
With the palm facing down, slowly fold the wrist upwards.
Using the other hand, slowly pull the hand back near your body.
Stay in this position for 30 seconds.
Stretch your wrist again.
Repeat twice.
Repeat this exercise for tennis elbow relief twice a day.
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Fist squeeze
Use a rolled up towel or a tennis ball and hold it in your palm for few minutes.
Hold the ball with your fingers and make a fist.
Squeeze tightly for 10 seconds and release slowly.
Repeat these natural remedies for tennis elbow twice a day.
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Towel twist
Hold a roughly rolled-up towel end-to-end, with one hand on each end.
Keep your shoulders stress free.
Turn your towel by moving your hands in the opposite directions, as if soaking out water.
Repeat this exercise ten times in the reverse direction.
When to visit a doctor
Many people treat the swelling and pain caused by tennis elbow with rest and medication. However, if the pain gets severe or does not getaway in 2 weeks, a person must see a doctor.
A doctor also prescribes a different NSAID or a steroid injection in a severe state. Most patients only require one injection, though they may require more rest to their elbow around 2-3 weeks later. Pain worsens after a steroid injection, but this improves within 48 hours.
Some people face a lot of difficulties in performing their day-to-day activities due to tennis elbow. A doctor recommends physical therapy for elbow joint pain relief in such cases. A specialist also provides treatments and other exercises to improve motion and decreases pain.
A doctor also recommends a supportive band or brace. This helps reduce the strain on the elbow if repetitive movements are necessary for their work.
Prevention
If the physical exercise of the forearms seems to deteriorate the symptoms of tennis elbow, a person can try:
Resting their arm for some time.
Using an ice pack on the affected arm to help decrease swelling of arm.
Taking medication like ibuprofen for the tennis elbow relief of inflammation and pain.
Consulting a doctor makes sure they are doing the exercises properly.
