How can you prevent tennis elbow?
December 19, 2022 | 30,00 EUR | answered by Ingo Hoffmann
Dear Doctor,
my name is Ludwig Schröter and I have been suffering from tennis elbow for some time now. I am 45 years old and have been playing tennis regularly for many years. A few months ago, I suddenly started experiencing pain in my elbow area, especially when gripping and lifting objects. These pains are now affecting my daily life, and playing tennis is only possible with pain.
I am worried that these symptoms may become chronic and would like to know how to prevent tennis elbow. Are there specific exercises I can do to strengthen the muscles in the elbow area and avoid injuries? Should I reduce my training intensity or refrain from certain hitting techniques to protect my elbow?
I am willing to take measures to alleviate my symptoms and prevent another tennis elbow. I would greatly appreciate your professional advice and recommendations to maintain my health and sports activity in the long term.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Kind regards,
Ludwig Schröter
Dear Mr. Schröter,
Thank you for your question regarding your tennis elbow. I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain in the elbow area and that it is affecting both your daily life and your tennis playing. Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a common overuse injury in the elbow area, which can occur especially in athletes like tennis or golf players.
To prevent tennis elbow and alleviate your symptoms, I recommend taking a break from playing tennis to allow the elbow time to recover. During this time, avoid activities that strain the elbow, such as heavy lifting or prolonged typing on the computer.
Specific exercises can help strengthen the muscles in the elbow area and prevent a recurrence of tennis elbow. These may include stretching exercises for the forearm muscles, strengthening exercises for the wrists and fingers, and exercises to stabilize the elbow. A physiotherapist can show you individually tailored exercises and support you in their proper execution.
Furthermore, it is important to ensure an ergonomic setup of your workspace to avoid unnecessary strain on the elbow. Also, make sure to use an appropriate technique while playing tennis to protect the elbow. A tennis racket with a larger hitting surface can help reduce the strain on the elbow.
In addition, physical measures such as cold or heat applications, as well as targeted shockwave therapy, can help alleviate your symptoms. If the pain persists despite these measures, I recommend consulting an orthopedic specialist who can provide an individual treatment recommendation.
I hope this information helps you maintain your health and alleviate your symptoms. Don't hesitate to ask further questions or seek professional help if needed.
I wish you a speedy recovery and continued enjoyment of playing tennis.
Best regards,
Ingo Hoffmann
