Key takeaways
- Tennis elbow is irritation where the forearm muscles attach to the outside of the elbow.
- Long hours on phones, tablets and laptops can overwork these muscles just like a tennis swing.
- It typically causes pain on the outside of the elbow that's worse with gripping and wrist movement.
- Soft-tissue work, stretching, ice and rest from aggravating activities usually help; focused shockwave is another option.
Have you ever woken up with a sore, tender elbow and wondered what you did yesterday? Brushing your teeth hurts. Pulling up your pants hurts. Reaching for the remote hurts. Then you find out it's tennis elbow. But wait, you don't play tennis!
We've seen a surprising number of patients with pain on the outside of the elbow. The culprit is very often their phone. My mom always said spending too much time on the phone was bad for you, and in a way, she was right.
How does a phone cause tennis elbow?
We use our phones, tablets and laptops for hours, for work emails, video calls, social media, movies and keeping in touch. Holding and scrolling a phone, or even holding a book for long periods, keeps the muscles on the outside of the forearm working constantly. Like a tennis player swinging a racket, those muscles become tight, inflamed and irritated. The two main ones are the extensor carpi radialis longus and extensor carpi radialis brevis.
Why is it called tennis elbow?
Tennis players often developed tight, irritated muscles on the back and outside of the forearm from swinging a racket. As those muscles were overworked, they pulled at the point where they attach to the bone on the outside of the elbow, the lateral epicondyle. When that area becomes inflamed, it's called lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow. The sensitive tissue covering the bone and the tendons themselves can become very painful too.
Signs and symptoms
- Pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow
- Warmth or slight swelling over the area
- A dull ache at rest that becomes sharp or stabbing with movement
- Pain when gripping, lifting, or turning the wrist
Because it's a repetitive strain injury, anyone who uses their arms a lot, such as painters, carpenters and people who type all day, is prone to it.
How is tennis elbow treated?
- Calm the irritation - ice, compression and, if appropriate, over-the-counter anti-inflammatories
- Soft-tissue work - soft-tissue mobilization and myofascial release loosen the muscle fibers and reduce strain on the attachment point
- Stretching - restores normal range of motion in the forearm muscles
- Change the activity - cut back on what's irritating it, and change how you hold your devices
- Focused shockwave - for stubborn tennis elbow that hasn't settled, focused shockwave therapy is a non-invasive option
Our phones have become mini computers we carry everywhere. So take a moment, put your phone down, and stretch out those forearms. Your elbows will thank you.