"Elbow of tennis player" syndrome: treatment with folk remedies, exercises

"Elbow of a tennis player" (or lateral epicondylitis) is a chronic disease characterized by painful sensations and an inflammatory process in the ulnar zone (namely, at the junction of the muscles with the epicondyle of the humerus).

Causes of the disease

The cause of the disease "elbow tennis player" are unnecessary strain on the muscles, forearms and tendons of the hands. Most often, this disease affects players in big tennis. Athletes, performing monotonous repetitive strikes on the ball with a racket, subject the muscles and tendons to a huge load, which causes the development of lateral epicondylitis, most often right-sided.

The disease "elbow tennis player" affects not only sports fans, but also people who perform repeated physical activities (cutting firewood, working with a wrench, playing golf, hammering nails, painting , etc.), which causes chronic stress of the ulnar tissue.

Sometimes such a disease, striking parallel all the neighboring areas: muscles, ligaments, tendons and periosteum - can be caused by a trauma or an elbow injury. Often lateral epicondylitis is combined with osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine.

"Tennis elbow" is characteristic of half of tennis players and 14% of the total population. The female sex affects this disease less often than the strong half of humanity (in the age category 30-50 years).

Diagnosis of elbow disease

Determine the presence of lateral epicondylitis in the body can be by pain in the ulnar zone, the posterior surface of the forearm, the region of the epicondyle, brush or fingers.

At first being insignificant, the pain sensations gradually increase, increase with strong compression of the fist, handshake, hand grasping of certain objects or lifting of minor weights: it can even be a mug with water. Any simple movements with this disease, which has a progressive nature, later become unbearable torture.

"Elbow of a tennis player", whose treatment consists in the use of complex therapy, it is easy to diagnose at the initial stage of development, having discovered tissue edema and muscle ruptures of extensors.

"Elbow of a tennis player": treatment

Treatment of the syndrome of "tennis elbow" is carried out in a complex way and is aimed at reducing the load in the ulnar zone, removing pain and inflammation, complete regeneration of the affected organ and its strengthening. Effective therapy and rapid recovery will ensure timely access to medical personnel at the first signs of the disease. How to treat the elbow of a tennis player? At the initial stage, the affected body is required to ensure complete peace. With a mildly expressed pain syndrome, self-massage in the muscular area and application of dry heat will be required.

Of the medicines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anesthetic agents are effective: Ibuprofen, Orthofen, Indomethacin, Butadion, Diclofenac. "Elbow of a tennis player" is effectively treated by physiotherapeutic procedures (laser, electrophoresis of novocaine or hydrocortisone, ultrasound, sinusoidal currents). In the morning and evening on the ulnar area it is recommended to apply iodine mesh.

Fixation of a Sick Hand

To fix the injured hand, it is necessary to use an elastic bandage or orthosis applied in the form of a figure eight. "Elbow tennis player" quickly heals in the case of using such special bandages that support the elbow joint, providing a reduction in the load on the arm and protecting against various kinds of injuries. For acute pain, the hand is suspended on a scarf or a bandage of plaster is applied on it (for a period of 3 to 5 weeks).

Recipes of traditional medicine

In the treatment of this disease, the recipes of traditional medicine, whose action is aimed at getting rid of ulnar pain and relieving inflammation, are well established. An effective tool is a comfrey plant whose roots and fresh crushed leaves (1: 1) are required to be combined with 1/4 part of the melted honey and 1/4 part of the vegetable oil. All this must be grinded to a homogeneous mass and applied warmly to the affected area. From above it is necessary to impose a layer of gauze, compress paper, bandage and leave for a day. Keep the medicinal paste in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks or in the freezer for several months. In case of proper treatment, after a short time you can forget about such a disease as "tennis player's elbow".

Treatment with folk remedies involves the removal of inflammation of the epicondyle with onion, combined with tar. For its preparation, it is necessary to cut a bulb into two parts, in the middle of the halves, two drops of pine tar drip. Both halves must be applied to the aching joint in the supracondylar zone. The dressing should be fixed and left for 30 minutes. Treatment should be done twice a day.

Milk compress against inflammation of the elbow

A milky compress helps, for the preparation of which it is required to heat the milk to 60 ° C by dissolving the ground propolis: a teaspoon into 100 ml of liquid. A warm milk mixture is required to soak the gauze napkin, wrap it with the affected joint, cover it with parchment paper and warm it. Compress leave for 2 hours. Treat for 20 days twice a day.

"Elbow of a tennis player": exercises

As the treatment is cured, the patient can gradually start practicing physical therapy and slowly return to normal exercise, while accelerating his own recovery at home. For this it is recommended to spare muscles, not to make sharp movements, to perform light physical exercises, whose action is aimed at strengthening and stretching the muscles and tendons around the ulnar zone.

1. Hand raise to shoulder level and bend in wrist. The other hand needs to gently pull the brush towards the elbow. Perform for half a minute for five to ten times.
2. Place the forearm on the knee in such a way that the brush hangs freely. To take in hand a load weighing 0.250-0.500 kg - slowly bend and unbend the arm in the wrist. Exercise repeat 5-10 times.
3. It is necessary to sit down, put the forearm on the knee in such a way that the hand is perpendicular to its surface. Squeeze the handle of the hammer and slowly turn the wrist to the left, then to the right (5-10 times).
4. Put on the tips of your fingers a rubber band and stretch it 20 times, pushing your fingers apart. After a short break, repeat the exercise three times. With insufficient resistance, two elastic bands can be worn on the fingers.
5. Squeeze the tennis ball in his hand about 20 times. Exercise done three times with small interruptions.

As a rule, the predictions of tennis elbow treatment are favorable in 95% of cases.

In rare cases, conservative treatment is powerless and it is necessary to resort to surgical intervention.

Preventative methods

To prevent this disease, it is recommended:

• Effective warm-up and regular strength training: conducted reasonably, they are aimed at improving the strength of muscle groups, strengthen the tendons of the ulnar zone, counteract fatigue when playing tennis;

• Regular massage, which includes the basic techniques: kneading, stroking, rubbing;

• Application of warming gels and ointments;
• Visiting sauna - a method that effectively affects injured tendons; Increased temperature causes the appearance of new capillaries, which increase the metabolic processes in the injured elbow;
• Vitaminization of the body, required to activate metabolic processes at the tissue and cellular levels; Vitamin complexes such as Unicap, Centrum, Vitrum are effective.

Quenching procedures for tendon diseases are highly contraindicated. This can cause a prolonged vasospasm, than delay the cure for an indefinite period.