When playing tennis or golf makes your elbow hurt, the cause could be tendinitis, a painful condition when tendons, which attach muscles to bone, become inflamed or irritated due to tiny tears. Recovery can take several weeks or months.
The February issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips that may help:
Rest -- Stop the activity that aggravates the pain. Wearing a snug forearm strap or splint may help decrease the pull of the forearm muscles on the injured tendons.
Treat the pain -- Massage the area with ice for five to eight minutes at a time, three or four times a day. You can also try acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen) for pain relief, unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
Strengthen muscles -- Gentle stretches or exercising may be recommended to strengthen wrist and forearm muscles and prevent reinjury.
Correct improper technique -- A sports professional may be able to instruct you on proper form.
Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today's health and medical news. To subscribe, please call toll-free 800-333-9037, extension 9PR1.
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