EPICONDYLITIS

Epicondylitis, also known as “tennist’s elbow”, is a condition characterized by noticing pain in the external face of the elbow when conducting activities that involve using your elbow, wrist or hand.

ANATOMYA: Over-solicited muscles

The extensor musculature of the hand and the wrist allows us to conduct the movement of extension of our hands and fingers. These are inserted in the epicondyle, a bone in the humerus, and this is where the following musculature is inserted:

• Extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis muscles
• Extensor carpi ulnaris muscle
• Extensor muscle of the little finger
• Common extensor muscle of the fingers

 

SYMPTOMATOLOGY: Pain in the elbow

Pain in the elbow is the main symptom and it usually manifests itself when conducting certain day-to-day activities that imply applying force to the elbow, the hand or the wrist. For example: opening up cans, using the computer, exercising, even holding objects.

CAUSES: Repetitive movements

This injury is mainly caused by micro-traumatisms or traction on the sport of insertion of the extensor musculature of the hand and the wrist.

In conclusion, the main causes are usually because of traumatisms, concussions and/or stress caused by micro-traumatisms or repetitive movements.

 

RISK FACTORS

Related to the possible causes, there are some activities that are associated with an increase of probability of suffering epicondylitis, for example:

If you practice sports that imply hard impacts, like tennis, padel or golf. Also, some jobs that imply the constant use of our hands, like eclecticist, hairdresser, butcher, etc. Even office jobs, due to the use of the mouse.

And so…

 

What is epitrocleitis?

Epitrocleitis or golfer’s elbow, is a condition characterized by severe pain in the flexor muscle insertion zone of the wrist and hand in the epitrochlear.

These two conditions have similar names, and even though they share causes of appearance, their manifestations and the affected zone are different. For that reason, the treatment is also different.

 

DYAGNOSIS

The diagnosis is based on the patient’s clinic. In several occasions, the doctor usually asks for image proof like an echography in order to check on the state of the muscles, tendons and to see if there is any inflammation.

TREATMENT

The indicated treatment is usually conservative and the symptoms are battled with physiotherapy. So, the technique and indications of the physiotherapist are meant to calm the pain and conduct a reinsertion of athletic activities in a progressive and safe way.

 

What to expect from a physiotherapy session:

1. Manual treatment like massages and stretches in order to relieve the pain.
2. Work on articular mobility in order to maintain the articular rank despite the pain.
3. Muscle stretching in order to relax the muscle structures.
4. Therapeutical exercises once the intensity of pain has decreased, in order to make tendons and musculature adapt to the new for loads that this articulation has to suffer every day.
5. Treatment with trigger points using dry needling.
6. Cryotherapy: We recommend applying ice several times, especially after training, for about 10 minutes. Rest and repeat application 2 or 3 more times.
7. Accompaniment and personal advising to the athletic reinsertion.