Treating Tennis Elbow

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It is called lateral epicondylitis but the way most of us know it as tennis elbow.

Tennis elbow is caused by tennis but the pain is actually caused by many other things as well.

The lateral epicondyle area is near the elbow. If you take your arm and extend it with your palms down the area is on the top by the elbow. Repetitive twisting causes the pain which is due to inflammation.

The way we treat it is with applying ice to the area and reducing the activity that causes it.

Using tennis as an example we often recommend stopping play for a short period of time but returning relatively quickly with a slow return to play. In many cases, doctors often recommend non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications as well.

The key is reducing the swelling and inflammation.