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
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