My Elbow Hurts – Do I Have Tennis Elbow?

Elbow pain is commonly caused by Tennis Elbow. Despite its name – you don’t have to play tennis to suffer from it. Although it’s true that tennis and pickleball players and other “racquet sports” players are prone to this injury, other activities, both at home and at work can trigger tennis elbow and cause you to say “my elbow hurts”.  Read on to learn the causes, symptoms and treatment for Tennis Elbow.

Causes of Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is typically caused by the overuse of your arm, forearm, and hand muscles. It occurs when you injure the area where the muscles and tendons of your forearm attach to the outside bony area of your elbow. Most of the time, the pain comes on gradually – making it difficult to pinpoint the cause. Occasionally a specific activity may cause it, such as shoveling heavy snow, or tackling a home renovation project. Other activities like overdoing it in your garden pulling weeds and digging,  a long game of horseshoes or using a chainsaw for an extended period of time can also cause symptoms to appear.

Check out the video “Treating Tennis Elbow with the 3pp Elbow POP Splint”  View Video

Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

Depending on the severity of your injury and the length of time you’ve had symptoms, your pain may feel like a constant ache in your elbow area, or may occur only with activities that involve reaching, grasping, or lifting. Usually the pain is worse when lifting with the elbows straight, for example, reaching into the refrigerator and pulling out a jug of milk. Sometimes a catching sensation may be felt when you move your elbow, and sometimes moving your wrist and elbow through its full range of motion may be uncomfortable.

Treatment of Tennis Elbow

It’s important that you see a healthcare professional for a correct diagnosis before you attempt to treat it, as there are other conditions which can cause similar symptoms. Your healthcare provider may recommend may prescribe a elbow brace/band to wear on your forearm.

The purpose of an elbow brace is to spread the pressure over your muscles so that the injured area doesn’t take the full force. When wearing a brace, it’s very important not to over tighten it, as you may cause a “pinching” of your radial nerve. Wraps such as 3pp Elbow POP Splint are designed so that you can localize the pressure, without wrapping the entire band too tightly around your arm.

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How to Relieve Tennis or Golfer’s Elbow with a 3pp Elbow POP Splint

Our blogs are educational in nature and are not intended as a substitute for medical advice. Because your condition is unique to you, it is recommended that you consult with your health care provider before attempting any medical or therapeutic treatments. We are always happy to answer questions about products mentioned in our blogs, however, we cannot provide a diagnosis or medical advice.