The symptoms of tennis elbow develop gradually. In most cases, the pain begins with mild intensity and slowly worsens over the course of weeks and months. Generally, there is no specific violent lesion associated with the onset of the clinical picture of Lateral epicondylitis tennis elbow treatment singapore.
signs and symptoms:
Pain and swelling localized on the outside of the elbow, at the lateral epicondyle;
Pain on the outside of the forearm, just below the elbow (in correspondence with the epicondylar muscles that graft onto the lateral epicondyle). The pain may also radiate down the forearm towards the wrist and into the back of the hand;
Strength in the weak and painful grip, even while holding small, relatively heavy objects in the hands;
Worsening of pain with wrist movements, especially with extension and lifting movements;
Morning stiffness.
Symptoms are often worsened by forearm activities, particularly twisting movements, such as turning a doorknob or opening a jar. The dominant arm is affected with greater incidence, however both limbs can be affected. Pain associated with lateral epicondylitis can be mild or severe (may also be felt when the arm is kept at rest). An episode of lateral epicondylitis can usually last between six months and two years. However, most people tend to recover within a year.
Age
The period of maximum onset of epicondylitis is between 30 and 50 years of age, although anyone can be hit by tennis elbow if there is exposure to related risk factors, such as: Work or recreational activities. People who perform jobs that involve repetitive wrist and arm movements are more likely to develop tennis elbow.
Some sporting activities. Playing racquet sports increases the risk of developing tennis elbow, especially if you are playing for the first time, with poor technique or with inadequate equipment (racquet with too tight strings or too short a handle) and shoulder muscles and poorly trained wrist.
Diagnosis
If the condition is caused by strenuous or repetitive activity, this should be avoided until symptoms improve. However, if elbow pain persists for several days despite resting, it is advisable to contact your doctor. Several factors must be taken into consideration in formulating the diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis; these include the extent of symptoms that have developed, any occupational risk factors, and the performance of particular sporting activities. The patient must report the exact location of the pain in the arm, if a traumatic episode has occurred and if he is suffering from other concomitant diseases (example: rheumatoid arthritis , neuritis, other rheumatic conditions orarthrosis of the elbow). During the physical examination, the doctor will use a series of tests to ascertain the origin of the pain, through direct palpation and the simultaneous search for signs of local swelling.
