ELBOW

Tennis Elbow / Golfer’s Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis / Medial Epicondylitis)

Overview: Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are common conditions characterized by pain around the elbow due to excessive use.

• Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis): Pain is primarily felt on the lateral (outer) aspect of the elbow.
• Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis): Pain is experienced on the medial (inner) aspect of the elbow..

Causes:

Both conditions are caused by repetitive use of the forearm muscles, leading to microtrauma at the muscle attachment points. Over time, this repetitive strain prevents the injuries from healing completely, resulting in fibrosis and degeneration of the tissues.

Symptoms:

Patients may experience:

• Pain around the elbow joint
• Swelling and redness
• Difficulty lifting weights or performing daily activities

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis can be made through various methods, including:

• Clinical Examination: Assessment of symptoms and physical examination of the elbow.
• Ultrasound (USG): Imaging to visualize soft tissue changes.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Detailed images to evaluate the extent of injury.

Treatment Options:

Treatment typically includes a combination of the following approaches:

• Rest and Ice Therapy:

  • Taking breaks from activities that exacerbate symptoms.
  • Applying ice packs to reduce swelling and pain.

• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs):

  • Medications to help manage pain and reduce inflammation.

• Braces:

  • Using elbow braces or forearm straps to relieve pressure on the affected muscles and tendons

• Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Injection:

  • An injection of PRP, derived from the patient’s own blood, to promote healing in the damaged tissues.

• Physiotherapy:

  • Modalities: Treatments like ultrasound (USG), extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to alleviate pain and promote healing.
  • Stretching Exercises: Gentle stretches to improve flexibility and reduce stiffness.
  • Eccentric Loading: Strengthening exercises that focus on eccentric contractions of the forearm muscles to enhance muscle resilience.

• In Refractory Cases:

  • If conservative treatments do not provide relief, surgical intervention may be considered to release the affected muscles and tendons.

Conclusion

Arthroscopic posterior capsulolabral repair is a procedure used to treat shoulder instability caused by damage to the posterior (back) part of the shoulder joint. This injury is common in athletes and individuals who experience repeated shoulder dislocations or trauma.