injuries and poisoning
Lateral Epicondylitis
Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis
Rest Rehabilitation Ice is applied to the outer elbow, and exercises that cause pain are avoided. Exercises that do not use the wrist extensor muscles primarily, such as jogging or cycling, can be substituted to maintain physical fitness. As pain decreases, elbow and wrist flexibility and strengthening exercises can be started. Use of a tennis elbow brace (usually for a few weeks) can be beneficial. When pain due to lateral epicondylitis is severe, a health care practitioner may inject a corticosteroid into the outer elbow. Surgery is rarely needed. 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 up, off the edge of the table. 2. Curl wrist up into flexion. 3. Slowly lower and extend wrist 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 extend wrist down to starting position and a count of 2 up for wrist flexion. 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. 