By Anton Urgello, PT, Tulsa Bone & Joint Owasso
Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a painful condition that occurs when there is inflammation or irritation of the tendons that attach to the outside of your elbow. This is typically caused by overloading or repetitive motion of your wrist and arm resulting in tiny tears of the tendons of the forearm muscles.
Despite its name, tennis players are not the only people who develop tennis elbow. Other athletes can develop this as well as folks who have jobs that require them to perform repetitive motions with their wrist and elbow (e.g., painters, desk/office workers, plumbers, electricians).
This condition can be really painful and limiting especially with normal daily activities that require twisting, turning or gripping. Fortunately, this condition can be treated conservatively. Stretching your wrist flexors and wrist extensors and performing eccentric exercises, where you are lowering your wrist slowly after raising it, are quite helpful with reducing and relieving your pain.
A visit to Tulsa Bone & Joint Physical Therapy is also a very good option, as we are equipped with the knowledge to educate you about your condition as well as guide you through an exercise program specific to you and the activities that you would like to return to.
Try the Wrist Flexor stretches below to help improve the mobility of your wrist and stretch the forearm muscles.
