NEW YORK, Sept. 23-Few conditions come with more ostensible cures than tennis elbow. When ľֱ published a Special Report during the U.S. Open on evidence-based cures for tennis elbow, many of our readers shared their own approaches. Here is a sampling (edited for space). Caveat emptor.
Exercise
I've been through this painful injury twice now. Both times physical therapy provided much assistance, as well as staying away from movements that irritate the injury.
One exercise that I found extremely beneficial during both bouts was performing a bench press with dumbbells. I believe that this strengthens the surrounding muscles and relieves the pressure on the tendons involved. I'm certain that this exercise expedited my recovery. The only caution is take care in positioning the dumbbells to prevent any twisting motions, which will irritate the tendons.
And another, from Cincinnati . . .
I was treated successfully with no drugs -- only a simple, non-strenuous exercise of wrist bending.
From a chiropractor . . .
In my time as a practicing doctor of chiropractic, I have seen this diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis used as a general term to cover any functional problem of the elbow that produces pain symptoms in the same way the "rotator cuff" and "carpal tunnel syndrome" have been used to generally describe any symptom in the shoulder or wrist. I cannot count how many times I have adjusted a radius or ulna over the years that led to relief of symptoms generally termed "tennis elbow."
Surgery
From a reader in Prague
I suffered with tennis elbow for six months before having a steroid injection. This "masked" the problem for over eight months, but when the tennis elbow returned it came with a vengeance. After "waiting and seeing" for another three months I visited a local orthopedic surgeon here in Prague who deals with Czech football and hockey players. He advised me that "conservative" methods of treatment rarely work with lateral epicondylitis and advised surgery.
After paying all of $180, I underwent an outpatient procedure, under local anesthetic, and three months later, to my delight, my condition has markedly improved. The recovery period my surgeon indicated is six to nine months, but in my opinion I am well ahead of schedule.
Alternative Treatments
My husband suffered from this for months (doesn't play tennis), and tried everything except injections and found nothing worked. Then a friend suggested Neurokinetics. He made an appointment with a practitioner, and after three treatments, he was cured. That was two years ago. No pain since.
About "dentist elbow"
I noticed that the treatment of large doses of B vitamins was absent from the list of attempted treatments for tennis elbow.
My dentist had a similar condition which he termed "Dentist Elbow," where the elbow is kept at an acute angle most of the day. A physician patient recommended purchasing a large bottle of B-complex pills, cautioning that it could take six weeks to achieve a benefit. Dosage: one tablet per day.
My dentist tried it, and it cured his "dentist elbow".
Better Equipment
There is a simple solution to tennis elbow, which the article completely overlooked -- and professionals know about. It is simply to get a new racquet with less tension in the frame. I had chronic tennis elbow, and when I went to a local tennis store they suggested changing racquets. It worked like a charm.
From a 50-year-old man
I have played tennis for 35-plus years. I can't give you specifics as to a right racquet or a safe way to hit a particular shot, but there are things that I have found to be recurring factors in the cases of tennis elbow in friends and myself. Addressing these points have significantly lessened or have helped cases of tennis elbow go away totally.
I found that I could create a case of tennis elbow and make it go away by simply switching racquet types, weights and so forth. In the case of people who hit shots with more drastic racquet acceleration, the problem becomes more complex. If I decided to hit an extreme kick serve every day at maximum pace, nothing would prevent elbow (and shoulder) problems from putting me on the bench.
If someone hit his finger with a hammer every day, and each day went to the doctor, sooner or later it would become obvious that someone needs to do something about the hammering process. So experiment with a lot of different racquets by weight, shape, grip size, and stiffness. Play sets with them; don't just hit a few balls. Take some lessons from a pro or somehow learn to hit more smoothly, without exaggerated superfluous motion or frantic acceleration of the racquet.
From a two-hander
It's the one handed forehand that has 90% of tennis elbow problems. A two handed stroke is most definitely easier on the elbow. Also, switching to a different racket may do the trick for perhaps 33% of players with a tennis elbow problem.
Relax and Play Happy
I am among the few who have never had tennis elbow, despite playing at least twice a week from age 15 through 57.
The best treatments for tennis elbow:
1. Relax, stop choking the racquet. All pros have relaxed grips;
2. Hit the ball early instead of late and reduce stress on the elbow area dramatically;
3. Take perhaps five lessons and learn to hit a forehand, the only shot that contributes to tennis elbow; and
4. Relax and get lazy