Pain Management
Discover how Main Line Health experts serve Philadelphia by treating a wide range of conditions, including back, neck and oncology-related pain.
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) and Golfer’s Elbow
What is tennis and golfer's elbow?
Both tennis and golfer's elbow are forms of tendinitis or swelling of the tendons. Tennis Elbow results from inflammation of the tendon along the outside of the elbow, and can affect you even if you have never set foot on a tennis court.
Tennis elbow comes from any repetitive gripping activity that involves using the thumb and first two fingers:
- Knitting
- Raking
- Painting
- Carpentry
- Typing
- sports such as tennis, racquetball, squash, fencing and weight lifting
Golfer's elbow is an overuse injury and a relative of tennis elbow, causing pain and inflammation in the tendon that connects the forearm to the elbow along the inside of the elbow.
Golfer's elbow is not just a golfer's condition. It is caused by activities that involve repetitive flexing, gripping or swinging and can also affect people who garden, bowl, golf, play baseball, garden, paint and do carpentry.
Treatments
Both Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow are treated first non-surgically, often with injections to reduce pain and inflammation. If this is not effective, surgery to remove the section of tendon that is damaged and repair the remaining tendon will be needed.
Elbow Replacement
People with arthritis or other conditions that may have severely damaged the elbow joint can experience relief with corrective elbow replacement surgery.
Non-Surgical Orthopaedic Treatments
Some orthopaedic conditions are first treated with non-surgical procedures followed by surgery as the next step.
Orthopaedic Rehabilitation
As one of the most extensive programs at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, our primary focus is to help patients build strength, mobility and endurance for a variety of orthopaedic conditions.
Tennis and Golf Elbow Surgery
These painful conditions that occur when the tendons in your elbow are overworked and damaged, from repetitive movement of the arm and wrist respond to non-operative treatment techniques such as injection with Platelet Rich Plasma or minimal incision radiofrequency tendon debridement.
Orthopaedic Surgery
Sports Medicine
If you’ve had a sports-related injury or have a condition that’s keeping you out of the game, our sports medicine expert physicians and specialists are here to help you get back to doing the things you love.