Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylagia) affects 1-3% of the general population and typically involves pain in the region of the outside of the elbow where the common tendon for a number of the wrist extensor muscles attach. In most cases, the responsible fibers are from the extensor carpi radialis brevis, which extends your wrist and middle finger.
Tennis elbow can have a variety of causes.
One of the more common is tendinopathy of the tendons at the outside of the elbow. Tendinopathy is thought to be caused by increased inflammation due to repetitive stress in the area. This can also cause micro-tearing in the muscle. In this case, the injury is acute, meaning it just happened. We have also seen many patients who have had the symptoms for months (or years!). In this case, the injury is more chronic.
There is no acute inflammation or swelling, but instead long-term changes occur to the tissues in the area from improper healing and continuous trauma. Tendinopathy can be seen in people who are playing tennis frequently without proper mobility and recovery plans.
Strategies to Decrease
Tennis Elbow
Pain
Another common cause could be over-gripping the racquet. In the video are some tendinopathy exercises and self-care techniques. (two minutes, 1-2x/day or before/after play)
Another tissue that can be at fault in tennis elbow pain is nervous tissue. Nerves run throughout the body for muscle function, sensation, etc. Irritation of the nerve, from repetitive activity or rubbing against other structures, can cause pain in the same area. The major nerve that runs around the outside of the elbow is the radial nerve.
The muscles nearby are commonly overused in tennis and can cause symptoms. Changing your swing (ex: adding more topspin) can lead to this issue. One way to try and help this is through radial nerve glides (shown in the video). Try some of these before your play/practice to see if it helps!
Finally, probably one of the best ways to help tennis elbow pain, is to look at the shoulder. Shoulder weakness can change how your wrist and elbow move through space. With tennis players, overhead strokes and serving can be irritating if the shoulder is lacking strength and control.