Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush



Tip from the Paddle Doc:How to Avoid Tennis Elbow What is it?One of the most common paddle tennis injuries is tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis. Experts say that an estimated 50% of racquet sports players will get tennis elbow, a painful condition that makes even the easiest tasks, like picking up a pot of coffee or shaking hands, difficult. The classic symptoms of tennis elbow are pain and tenderness on the outside of your arm, just below the bend of your elbow. Although it's called tennis elbow, this condition doesn’t just strike racquet sport players. Plumbers, carpenters, butchers and construction workers can also get tennis elbow.PreventionAccording to Dr. Robert Wysocki of the Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush Hand, Wrist & Elbow Institute, the key to avoiding tennis elbow is prevention!Following are the methods he recommends for keeping tennis elbow from interfering with your paddle game:Stay in good overall physical shape.Take breaks. Playing every day puts you at a greater risk of injury.Ask a pro to show you the correct paddle forehand and backhand techniques.Check with your pro to be sure you are using the right paddle for your ability, body size and strength.Don’t overuse your arm with non-paddle movements that can injure your tendon. Maintain balance, for example consider limiting heavy weight lifting during a busy paddle tennis season.Perform simple wrist flexion and extension exercises every other day to stretch and strengthen the muscles in your forearm, but avoid these exercises if causing pain. (see more below)Wear a brace when you play if you are at risk for tennis elbow. Most drugstores sell straps that can be worn around your forearm just below your elbow. It will distribute pressure throughout the arm, easing pressure on the tendon. Keep in mind that a brace is not a substitute for rehab or an excuse to play through pain.Stretching and Strengthening ExercisesWrist extensor stretch Extend your right arm straight in front of you with your palm down. Bend your wrist so your fingers point to the ceiling. Use your left hand to pull your right fingers back toward your body. Feel the stretch under your forearm. Relax the stretch, point your fingers down and pull your fingers toward you until you feel the stretch in the muscles and tendons on the top of your forearm. Repeat in each direction 10 times, hold each stretch for 10 seconds and then repeat with your left arm. Wrist curlHold a small 5-lb weight (or large can of food) and then sit and rest your right forearm on your right thigh with the weight beyond the front of your knee. With your palm facing upward, bend your wrist and slowly curl the weight up as far as you comfortably can. Then, turn your hand over so your palm faces down. Slowly raise and lower the weight. Do each exercise 10 times and repeat with the left arm. Tennis Ball SqueezeThis exercise stretches the ligaments and tendons in your forearms. Simply squeeze a dead tennis or platform tennis ball in each hand 25 times; then rest and repeat twice. TreatmentIf you notice the pain in your elbow doesn’t go away and even worsens after you play platform tennis, this could mean you are experiencing the early signs of tennis elbow and you should seek treatment from a board-certified orthopedic elbow specialist. An estimated 80-95% of all tennis elbow patients find relief with non-surgical treatment, including rest, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines, physical therapy and occasionally injections. Surgical options are typically discussed only when these conservative methods are unsuccessful. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush (MOR) is the Official Orthopedic Provider for Chicago Platform Tennis. As team doctors for the Chicago Bulls, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Fire Soccer Club, Windy City Bulls and Chicago Steel Hockey, MOR physicians are experts in treating sports overuse injuries, such as tennis elbow. To make an appointment with Dr. Robert Wysocki or any other MOR physician, call the platform tennis injury appointment line at: 855-603-4141. ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download