The Ipswich Flyer IpswichFlyer_Nov2018_For_Web | Page 24

The Flyer Health Tennis Elbow Neil Liffen, Director of East Coast Physio discusses a common soft tissue injury to the elbow. It is a misconception that to have tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, you have to play Neil Liffen tennis! Tennis elbow is a common musculoskeletal condition and it’s estimated that as many as one in three people have tennis elbow at any given time. Each year in the UK, about fi ve in every 1,000 people go to see their GP about tennis elbow with a recurrence rate within 2 years was 8.5%. The condition usually affects adults and is more common in people who are 40- 60 years of age with men and women are equally affected. Tennis elbow is an ‘overuse phenomenon’ related to people who perform repetitive activities e.g. gripping and lifting, either at work and/or during recreational pursuits. Unfortunately, there is not the perfect job and most jobs involves a repetitive loading element. In tennis elbow, this ECP specialise in diagnostic Treatment options ultrasound (if clinically indicated) r Manipulative "hands on" therapy r Acupuncture r Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy r Soft tissue or joint injections r Plus other treatments - see website for details in combination with physical examination to ensure accuracy in your diagnosis and enhance specific targeted treatment. repetitive strain causes over loading (stress) to a tendon located around the lateral (outside) elbow, called the common extensor tendon (CET). The CET inserts into a bony region called the lateral epicondyle of the Humerus (long upper arm bone). On ultrasound a normal CET has a regular linear appearance (Figure 1), but in tennis elbow abnormalities of the CET can occur. In Figures 2-4 we demonstrate some of these abnormalities. There are various treatments options for tennis elbow, but at ECP we have had excellent results with extracorporeal shock wave therapy. If you require any further information or would like to discuss treatment options please contact ECP. Figure 1. Normal common extensor tendon on ultrasound Figure 2. Thickening of common extensor tendon (tendinopathy) Figure 3. Ultrasound of a partial tear of the common extensor tendon Figure 4. Calcifi cation of the common extensor tendon LOCATED IN GP SURGERIES AT: Felixstowe Grove Medical Centre 01394 288444 Ipswich Two Rivers Medical Centre 01473 356215 Leiston The Leiston Surgery 01728 642955 Further details: www.eastcoastphysio.co.uk 24 TH E FLYER | N OVEMBER 2 0 1 8 Pl ease menti on ‘The Fl yer’ when respondi ng to adv e rti s e me nts