Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is an inflammatory condition that causes severe pain in the outer corner of the elbow. The pain often radiates to the shoulder, forearm and wrist. Patients especially state that they have difficulty in holding something, opening a door or even taking a spoon to their mouth.
The main problem in tennis elbow disease is at the point where the extensor muscle group, which allows us to lift our wrist backwards, attaches to the elbow, as a result of repetitive movements, overuse or excessive strain. inflammation and sometimes a partial tear. Especially the forehand shot in tennis puts excessive stress on this muscle group, and this is where the disease gets its name. However, today, among the activities that cause the disease, squeezing a screwdriver, doing excessive cleaning or housework, repeating the same movement hundreds of times a day due to work, intense keyboard use and similar situations are more common.
Apart from tennis players, painters. , plumbers, cleaners, carpenters and secretaries are some of the risky occupational groups. Tennis elbow disease is seen quite frequently in our country, especially among housewives.
The common complaint of all patients is pain and burning in the outer part of the elbow and a decrease in the grip strength of the hand. As I mentioned before, the pain can go up to the shoulder and down to the wrist. The decrease in grip strength can sometimes make it impossible for the person to even put on his or her clothes. These complaints are often aggravated by activities that require forearm strength, such as turning a screwdriver, shaking hands, holding a racket, lifting a teapot.
Activities that are thought to cause tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) should be reduced and, if possible, completely abandoned.
The medications recommended for tennis elbow should not be used continuously, but until the body overcomes the disease. It is especially important to support the healing process with edema-relieving, anti-inflammatory drugs and collagen-containing food supplements.
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