3 Popular Sports that Lead to Tennis Elbow
Nov 23, 2015
We have previously talked about tennis elbow and tendonitis on this site. Tennis elbow is a degenerative condition caused by repetitive stress. Contrary to its name, however, tennis players are not the only athletes who can suffer from the condition. Here we are going to discuss the most common sports that can lead to the development of tennis elbow.
Since it’s called “tennis elbow” it’s no surprise that the condition is common among tennis players. The motion required to swing a tennis racquet utilizes the outer arm muscles in the forearm just below the elbow. Over time and a lot of play, this repetitive motion can cause the tendons to degenerate and cause pain.
Swinging a golf club puts the inner forearm muscles to work. Frequent play can result in golfer’s elbow – a condition that has many of the same symptoms as tennis elbow. The only difference is the particular forearm muscles that are affected (golfer’s elbow impacts the inner forearm muscles, while tennis elbow affects the outer forearm muscles).
Throwing a baseball requires heavy use of the forearm muscles. Pitchers are especially vulnerable to developing the condition since they are required to throw more than any other player.
Tennis elbow can also stem from other, non-sports related causes. Jobs or hobbies that require a lot of repetitive arm, wrist, or hand motions are a big culprit. This can include construction and other manual labor-heavy occupations. Repetitive motion activities such as computer usage, musical instruments and hand writing can also cause the condition.
No matter what the cause of tennis elbow, there are ways to treat the condition effectively and get you back to your job or playing your favorite sport. The pain management specialists at Advanced Spine & Pain Clinics of Minnesota have been treating patients with tennis elbow for decades. Make your appointment today and start plotting your treatment plan.