injuries and poisoning
Medial Epicondylitis
Treatment of Medial Epicondylitis
Rest Rehabilitation Initial treatment includes avoiding any activity that causes pain when the wrist is bent toward the palm. Ice applied over the painful area and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) help relieve pain. After pain has decreased, an exercise program that strengthens the wrist and shoulder muscles is begun. Surgery is rarely needed. 1. Begin with the elbow straight, palm down. 2. With the uninvolved hand, grasp thumb side of hand and bend wrist downward into wrist flexion. 3. To increase the stretch, bend wrist toward small finger and pull, curling fingers into more flexion. 4. Hold each stretch for 30 seconds. 5. Do 1 set of 4 repetitions, 3 times a day. Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC. 1. Position involved hand palm up. 2. Grasp fingers on involved hand with the other hand. 3. Keep elbow straight on involved arm. 4. Pull hand and fingers gently into extension. 5. Hold stretch for 30 seconds. 6. Do 1 set of 4 repetitions, 3 times a day. Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC. 1. Place forearm on table with the hand palm down, off the edge of the table. 2. Move wrist up into extension. 3. Slowly flex wrist down to starting position. 4. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions, 1 time a day. 5. Special instructions a. Focus on lowering (eccentric) phase with a count of 4 to flex wrist down to starting position and a count of 2 up for wrist extension. b. Start with light weight (for example, a soup can) or no weight. c. Can also do exercise with band resistance. Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC. 1. Grasp and gently squeeze towel roll with both hands. 2. Twist towel in alternating directions. 3. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions, 1 time a day. Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC. 1. Flatten putty on table. 2. Curl (flex) fingers and place on putty. 3. Straighten and spread fingers, pushing into putty. 4. Do 3 sets of 10 repetitions, 1 time a day. 5. Special instructions a. Start with lowest resistance putty (that is, yellow). b. Can also do exercise using rubber band around fingers for resistance. Courtesy of Tomah Memorial Hospital, Department of Physical Therapy, Tomah, WI; Elizabeth C.K. Bender, MSPT, ATC, CSCS; and Whitney Gnewikow, DPT, ATC. 