Diagnosis, Treatment, And Prevention for your elbow

When attempting to diagnosis tennis elbow, a doctor or physical therapist will test for tenderness on or near the bony knob of the elbow joint. Pain that increases when bending the wrist back is also indicative of tennis elbow. Tennis elbow related pain also increases when gripping. Thus, shaking hands may be painful. Finally, a perception of weakness or chronic muscle fatigue in the forearm muscles is an indicator of tennis elbow.

Treatment for tennis elbow is usually conservative and passive. Most importantly, people with tennis elbow should avoid the activities that cause forearm pain (e.g., playing tennis) until the injury heals. Rest will often correct tennis elbow in a matter of weeks. In addition, the use of ice and anti-inflammatory medications can ease pain and promote healing. Physical therapy and heat therapy may also hasten the healing process. Finally, upon returning to regular activity, wearing an elbow and forearm brace can prevent recurrence of tennis elbow. Elbow braces, available at drug stores, help prevent tennis elbow by restricting movement and use of the elbow.

Because treatment of tennis elbow and recovery from tennis elbow can be a long, frustrating process, prevention is the best strategy. For tennis players, several equipment adjustments can help prevent tennis elbow. Players should select a racket with a midsized racket head (90 - 105 square inches) and high flexibility (stiffness index lower than 65). Additionally, players should string their rackets with soft strings such as synthetic nylon or natural gut at the low end of the recommended tension range. Finally, to prevent tennis elbow, players should ensure that the grip of their racket is neither too large nor too small.

Besides equipment adjustments, tennis players (and others) attempting to prevent tennis elbow can follow several guidelines related to physical activity. First, strengthening the muscles of the hand, wrist, and forearm is perhaps the best way to prevent tennis elbow. Strengthening these muscles helps reduce strain on the elbow itself. Appropriate and effective wrist and forearm exercises include wrist curls and extensions (with very light weights), squeezing a tennis ball in the palm of the hand, and placing a rubber band around the fingers and extending the fingers. In addition to strengthening exercises, it is important that tennis players consult a tennis professional to ensure that their strokes are efficient, correct, and are not placing undue strain on the elbow.

In conclusion, while tennis elbow is a potentially debilitating injury, taking appropriate preventative measures and consulting knowledgeable professionals can help limit the negative effects of tennis elbow.

Do you know the tennis elbow affects millions of players ?!

While tennis elbow, known medically as lateral epicondylitis, is not limited to tennis players, it is estimated that one third of all tennis players will experience the condition at some point in their lives.
Anyone who engages in lifting at the elbow, or repetitive movements of the elbow and wrist, is likely to be susceptible to this condition, so naturally tennis players are at high risk.

The cause of pain from this condition is not a medical certainty, although it is believed that it is caused by small tears of the tendons attaching the forearm muscles to the bone at the elbow joint. It is the muscles of the forearm that are used to cock the wrist back - extensor carpi radialis brevis - that are the suspected culprits in this condition.

So how do you know you have tennis elbow and not some other painful condition?
Individuals with this ailment typically feel pain on the outside of their elbow, especially when grabbing an object and cocking back the wrist.
The pain is generally more severe when lifting something - although pain while resting should be expected - and it is often described as a pain that radiates down the forearm.
Pain from tennis elbow generally starts gradually, although it has been known to have a sudden onset as well.

If you believe that you are suffering from tennis elbow you should consult with your physician immediately.
Treatment for this condition is typically noninvasive, and over 90% of patients are successfully treated without surgery.
Tennis players can often address the problem through some subtle changes in their equipment and technique.

A good first step is to make sure that you are using a racket with a properly sized grip. Another option is to reduce the tension on your racket strings.
That reduction in string tension will soften the impact of the ball, and reduce twisting of the forearm during off-center hits.
Lastly, changing your actual tennis stroke can help reduce the negative impacts on your elbow as well.
Players who learn to swing without leading the racket with their elbow in a flexed position can often alleviate much of the condition and reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence.

There are noninvasive medical options that can address the pain of this condition as well. Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to combat both pain and inflammation.
If a regimen of anti-inflammatory drugs is not successful, cortisone injections are an option that has proven successful for some patients.

However, injections are not always successful and if relief does not come quickly then you are likely not going to be served by continued injections.
However, medication is not the only avenue that one can explore when trying to alleviate pain and discomfort in the elbow region.
Use of an elbow brace can reduce the strain placed on the elbow during the tennis stroke.

Sadly, if the aforementioned treatment options are not successful then surgery may be the only road to relief.
The good news is that surgery has a very high rate of success, and it is only required in a small percentage of patients.

Improve Your Skills Without A Court

The most effective thing you can do to improve your game when you don't have access to a court or a partner is to build your endurance and do footwork drills.
Making a regular practice of following increasingly challenging jogging routes will help you build the kind of endurance that will help you keep your energy levels high throughout even the most challenging games.
To keep from injuring yourself during a jog, be sure to do a full set of warm-up and cool down stretches.

In addition to covering some ground as a jogger, it is a good idea to make up your own personal footwork drills so that you will be able to put your newfound endurance on the courts to full use by exploring your full range of lower body movement.
Going through even a short daily regimen of slides, backwards jogs, side steps, kicks, jumps, and other low-impact aerobic moves will help you become more agile.
Being light on your feet can give you a huge advantage when you are running for the ball.
The more effortlessly you can slide, skip, run, and bounce on the court, the more graceful and efficient your play will become.
If you have access to a lot of open air space like a large field or park, try playing a bit of tennis golf as a break from your regular drills.


The game of tennis golf may sound strange, but it is actually a great way to have a lot of fun while improving your tennis skills.
You can play alone or with a group of friends. If you play in a group, make sure that everyone has a way to distinguish his or her unique ball.
A round or two of tennis golf can help you increase your serving power and accuracy while having a great time. Like regular golf, the objective of tennis golf is to get your ball to a set spot in as few serves as possible.
A landmark like a specific tree in an open field is a great place to aim for. Serve the ball as powerfully as you can and try to hit your target.
Wherever your ball lands, go to it and serve it again from there.
By playing in different kinds of terrain, you will be able to develop your serving skills in a variety of situations that call for different levels of power and precision.
The confidence and accuracy you gain from playing tennis golf can translate to a better performance on the court.

Clothes In Tennis Should Be Comfortable

As always, you want to look your best, after all, you have always been a great dresser. The decision now is 'what should I wear when playing tennis?' Do I need special outfits similar to what pros like the Williams sisters wear or can I just wear casual clothing? Bottom line is that the decision is yours to make.

You can purchase a complete outfit made by any major manufacturer of sporting goods. These include Nike, Adidas, Prince, Wilson, Head, Babolat, Balle de Match, and there still many more out there selling good products.

If you do not want to invest in the special clothes, think comfortable. Your outfit should be loose and flowing as you will be running back and forth, jumping up and down and twisting in every direction as you try to hit the ball. Maybe you will want to just wear the clothes you already have in your closet or to purchase ones-either works as long as you can move freely around the court.

If you join a group or a club and play as a team together, you may need to purchase a team uniform.

Your group will select an outfit that may include a top, shorts, socks and jacket or a special short dress with socks and a jacket-monograms are also available and you can even add the team's name to the back of the outfit.

If you have joined a tennis club, you may want to stop by periodically to see what other people are wearing. I am not saying that you should try to 'keep up with the Jones' here, but there may be an 'unspoken' dress code for players. You should be able to figure that out without embarrassing yourself by showing up inappropriately dressed.

Take time to go out and shop around for your outfit. If you do not have a lot of spare time or you hate to think about spending time at the mall on your day off, look on the internet. Just type in 'tennis clothing' and you will be amazed at the number of different web sites that will be listed.

Go through a few of these sites to get an idea of what you want-this is probably the quickest and easiest way to see literally hundreds of different options in just a few minutes. You can even order your outfit without every leaving your home-it can even be delivered directly to your door for you to wear.

Find the outfit you like and that you are comfortable in. Play tennis with your friends, make new acquaintances, schmooze with potential clients, and just enjoy yourself. You are out with people and getting exercise and you look and feel great.

A Revolution of Style in Tennis

The evolution of tennis clothes has mirrored the changes in everyday fashion.
For example, male tennis players in the 1970's and 1980's favored short, tight-fitting shorts and traditional polo shirts.
In the late 1990's and 2000's, male tennis players began to wear larger, looser shorts and more casual shirts.
In addition, female tennis players of the 1970's and 1980's favored traditional tennis clothes with an updated style. Popular clothing included shortened tennis skirts and dresses.
Today's women tennis players wear a variety of tennis clothes, ranging from tennis skirts and dresses to shorts and t-shirts.
While tennis players still wear white at more traditional clubs (ex. Wimbledon), there is a much larger variety of colors in modern tennis clothes.

Another factor contributing to the evolution of tennis clothes is the increased athleticism in the modern game.
Tennis is now a high intensity sport, requiring tremendous physical effort and exertion.
Tennis players must be able to run, cut, jump, and twist all while executing precise tennis strokes to hit a ball often moving at high speeds.
Consequently, comfort is a major concern of players.
Modern tennis players prefer tennis clothes that are lightweight, fit well, repel moisture, and are generally comfortable.
Tennis clothes that keep the body cool and dry can help players counteract the physical toll that playing tennis, especially in hot weather, can exact.

Advances in clothing technology have also contributed to the evolution of tennis clothes.
For years, cotton was the fabric of choice for tennis clothes.
In the last few years, however, many tennis apparel makers have introduced garments made of new, synthetic fibers.
Tennis clothes made of these synthetic fibers help remove sweat from the skin and clothing by wicking moisture away from the body.
Examples of these clothing technologies are Adidas's ClimaCool brand and Nike's Dri-FIT. Most professional tennis players and many recreational tennis players now wear tennis clothes made with these new technologies because they keep them cooler and drier than traditional tennis wear.

In conclusion, tennis clothes have seen many changes over the years.
While tennis clothes maintain some of their formality and traditional style, modern tennis players value comfort and individual style over tradition.
Increased athleticism, advances in technology, and changes in general fashion have greatly affected the tennis clothing industry.
In addition, breaking from their traditional roots, tennis clothes have become a medium for personal expression of individual style and important pieces of equipment in an increasingly physical sport.

Tennis Champions: Are They Born? Or they are made?

Boris Becker says that two weeks before achieving his first Wimbledon title (in 1985 when seventeen years old), he felt as if it were predetermined.

As a seventeen year old, Ivan Lendl, who, prior to Pete Sampras, held the No 1 spot longer than any other player in history, was convinced that he would turn himself into the best player in the world. He would even tell you so.

When asked by the media about his chances of winning his first US Open title (in 1975), Jimmy Connors' response was: "There are 127 losers in the draw -- and me!" Jimmy won.

What these former greats had in common was an unshakeable certainty that they would win. It is a trait that is shared by all top sports people.

But a question that has always fascinated me is: Are such champions born, or are they made?

Were Newccombe, Becker, Lendl and Connors born to rule the tennis world? Or did they become champions because of the choices they made? Was their success predetermined, as suggested by Newcombe and Becker? Or was it a result of a single-minded dedication to making themselves the very best, as implied by Lendl and Connors?

Are champions a product of nature? Or of nurture?

To be a true champion at tennis or any other sport requires very special qualities. These qualities or attributes can be divided into two categories -- the physical and the mental. It is my contention that physical attributes are predominantly a product of chance. They are determined genetically.

For instance, some people are born with a body structure conducive to speed, others to strength, and so on. In this sense, a very large proportion of the population are excluded, from birth, from ever winning an Olympic gold medal as a sprinter or a weightlifter.

It is the same with tennis. The physical attributes that are required to become a champion player are such things as good hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and leg-speed. Without question, these attributes can be developed to their fullest potential with hard work and effective training methods.

But most people are excluded from becoming the best tennis player in the world, no matter how much time they spend attempting to reach their physical ceiling of potential.

Does this mean, then, that champions are born? Were Newcombe, Becker, Lendl and Connors so physically superior to everyone else that becoming the best was just a mere formality?

Certainly not. All four were exceptionally gifted physically, but in my view, there were other players of the same eras who were more gifted than they were.

What separated them from everyone else were their mental attributes: their will to win, their determination, their perseverance, their ability to remain calm under presuure, their ability to bounce back from disappointments, and the belief that they deserved to win -- all attributes that not one of us is born with, but that each one of us has the power to develop. The only choice is whether we want to or not.

It is in this sense that, given the necessary or essential physical attributes as a starting point, all champions are not only made -- they are self-made.