The elbow
The elbow is a set of three joints connecting the upper arm to the forearm and enabling the various arm movements: flexion, extension and rotation, etc. Epicondylitis, or tennis elbow, is the main condition affecting the elbow. There are some 240,000 cases per year in France!
Tennis elbow is only caused by playing tennis in 5 to 10% of cases! It is estimated that a third to two-thirds of tennis elbow cases are related to professional activities or particular leisure activities (DIY, gardening, computer use, etc.). It predominantly affects 40 to 60 year-olds.
Tennis elbow, a pain in the elbow
Tennis elbow is damage of the muscles of the forearm at the point of their insertion into the epicondyle, an eminence of the humerus bone located on the elbow joint. It can appear gradually or suddenly with pain when touched on the external surface of the elbow and when moving the forearm.
A long recovery process
Treatment includes rest, painkillers and anti-inflammatories and physiotherapy. During the acute phase, wearing a wrist splint can help relieve pain. Tennis elbow evolves spontaneously towards healing after 9 to 24 months, but during this period, certain work or everyday movements may be difficult.
When activities are resumed, wearing an elbow support can help prevent recurrences.