Tennis Elbow or Lateral Epicondylitis

Pain or tenderness on the outside (lateral) part of the elbow just below the bony prominence may be a symptom of tennis elbow. The pain may radiate down the arm to the wrist and because of inflamed muscles and tendons, fully extending the forearm, lifting, bending and grasping may be painful.

Tennis elbow is not only caused by tennis but by any repeated straining of the wrist extensors (muscles which pull the hand up) and also the lateral epicondyle, extensor muscles on the outside of the forearm. This is caused by repetitive turning of the palm of the hand down and inward (pronation), as in tennis, or repetitive turning of the hand outward (supination) as when using a screwdriver.

The chronic condition is normally caused by small tears in the tendon and muscle sheaths which may heal and then be damaged again by the same strain. This causes bleeding and the development of granules and calcium in the tissues. Collagen can leak out, cause inflammation and swelling which may lead to pressure reducing blood flow and causing the radial nerve to be pinched.

The condition can last for years and will recur unless the activity causing the condition is modified.

Genesis Medical offers a shock wave therapy system which dramatically speeds healing for a majority of sufferers. This is the Orthospec shock wave system which delivers pulses of energy in the form of about 1500 sonic waves into the painful area over a period of about 10 minutes. Pain relief is usually immediate. On average two treatments are needed, the second treatment being 2 to 4 weeks after the first.

Clinical experience from seven countries around the world for patients who had suffered from chronic pain for over six months and who had not responded to conservative treatment showed over 70% success. A copy of the full report is available free of charge to therapists from Genesis Medical or from Medispec at www.medispec.com.