Tennis Elbow: A Bodybuilder’s Nightmare
If some of you read an earlier article I wrote about training through injuries, then you would know that for several weeks I have had pain in my upper forearm which I thought was my brachioradialis. Well, that wasn’t the case. I come to find out it’s tennis elbow.
Now, some of you might not be familiar with tennis elbow, and while I was a competitive tennis player all the way through college, this injury has nothing to do with it as it’s my left arm. All of this pain and discomfort stemmed from a set of reverse curls when mid-set I felt a sharp pain. I finished my workout and chalked it up that I must have pulled something and I’d be fine in a couple days. That’s wasn’t the case
Tennis Elbow… AKA Lateral Epicondylitis
No, I’m not speaking a different language, the medical term for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis. What causes this is the small muscles of the forearm towards the elbow become irritated. This can be due to overuse, repetitive movements, trauma to the area, and overworking due to a heavy weight just to name a few.
In my case, it was literally the first time doing reverse curls in months and in my opinion of the situation, I probably went a little too heavy to start off my working sets of reverse curls which caused the injury. Now, some people might think, “it’s basically just tendonitis, I can work through it.” Trust me, you won’t want to work through it. Simply clenching your fist without any weight in your hand is enough to irritate the area and cause mild to severe pain. What you also might not have known, is that many hardcore bodybuilders and elite athletes suffer from or have suffered from lateral epicondylitis during their career—not just tennis players.
In the early stages of tennis elbow, you may have some soreness and possibly some minor inflammation. Many would assume it’s muscle soreness or DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) setting in from a previous workouts. However, many will soon find that things as simple as picking up a cup of coffee or turning a doorknob is enough to shoot pain into the affected area and cause you to think twice about if it’s truly muscle soreness or DOMS. The pain you feel generally starts right at the elbow and can travel all the way down to the hand or can simply stop at the forearm. In my case, depending on the movement, I can feel pain both in my forearm as well as all the way down to my hand.
What is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain and inflammation on the outer part of the elbow. Despite its name, tennis elbow is not limited to tennis players; it can affect anyone who repetitively uses their forearm muscles and tendons, particularly those involved in gripping and lifting activities.
The condition typically develops due to overuse or strain of the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle, which is a bony bump on the outer part of the elbow. These tendons connect the forearm muscles to the upper arm bone. Activities that involve repetitive gripping, twisting, or lifting motions of the wrist and forearm can lead to small tears in these tendons, causing pain and inflammation.
Common symptoms of tennis elbow include:
- Pain or tenderness on the outer part of the elbow.
- Weakness in the forearm.
- Pain that worsens with gripping or lifting objects, shaking hands, or turning doorknobs.
- Stiffness in the elbow, particularly in the morning or after periods of rest.
The treatment for tennis elbow usually involves a combination of rest, icing, and over-the-counter pain medications to reduce inflammation and pain. Physical therapy exercises that focus on strengthening the forearm muscles and improving flexibility can also be beneficial.
In more severe cases or when conservative treatments are not effective, a doctor might recommend more advanced treatments, such as corticosteroid injections, orthotics (brace or support for the forearm), or, in rare cases, surgery to repair the damaged tendons.
Preventing tennis elbow involves using proper technique during activities that stress the forearm muscles, taking frequent breaks to rest, and gradually increasing the intensity of activities to avoid sudden strain on the tendons.
If you suspect you have tennis elbow or are experiencing persistent elbow pain, it’s advisable to consult a medical professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment recommendations.
Is Tennis Elbow Treatable?
I wish there was a solid answer for this, but it’s yes and no—it ultimately comes down to how bad your tennis elbow is and the steps you are willing to take to correct the issue. For starters, you should go to the doctor in order to get a proper diagnosis. From there, options will be presented to allow you to choose the direction you wish to go in terms of treatments. The doctor might not even give you an answer and might refer you to go see a physical therapist for their opinion. Either way, you will have laid out in front of you a few different options.
Worst case scenario, you are going to need surgery to fix your tennis elbow. However, this is a last resort if other options provide no relief. And you will also find many surgeons saying NOT to go through with the surgery it, itself, could have complications that might limit your range of motion as well as create other problems.
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