Tennis Elbow, Try Physical Therapy! No Need for an Injection

Tennis elbow (or lateral epicondylitis)  is a common elbow injury experienced by tennis players and other tasks that involve repetitive motions of the wrist and elbow. Typical signs and symptoms include pain and tenderness over the lateral epicondyle ( lateral elbow), worsened by resisted wrist extension and passive wrist flexion, and decreased grip strength.  Many people rush to the physician and get an injection for their first line of treatment and go on playing or doing their activity.  Current research actually showed worse long term outcomes with patients with chronic lateral epicondylitis who received corticosteroid injections.   A recent physical therapy study actually showed great outcomes with patients with  lateral epicondylitis within 5-10 visits.  What is even more amazing is when physical therapy included a cervical spine (neck) intervention that outcomes were reached in fewer visits!   Physical therapy is associated with short-term relief, the fewest recurrences, the best rate of full recovery at one year, and the lowest rate of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug use.   There is no need to be in pain or to play tennis with elbow pain.   Contact Pursuit Physical Therapy at 407-494-8835 or visit www.pursuittherapy.com for more information regarding your elbow pain.  Get pain free in fewer visits than the standard treatment!