Cookie Settings
Agiou Dimitriou Av. 5, Athens (Dafni metro station) +30 2109705290 info@mantzaristherapy.gr
Mantzaris Therapy

Epicondylitis and Physiotherapy


Many people occasionally visit their orthopaedic doctor or physiotherapist as they complain of pain on the outer side of the elbow.

Epicondylitis and Physiotherapy

Epicondylitis is essentially an inflammation of the tendons of the extensor tendons of the glenohumeral joint.

External epicondylitis or tennis elbow is more common than internal epicondylitis (golfers elbow). It is an injury due to overuse of the elbow joint. Even today the reason for this pathology remains unclear. In research that has been carried out it has been concluded that it can be due to both exogenous and endogenous factors. Runge was the first to describe this painful pathology in 1873, calling it 'writer's cramp'. Studies have shown that it is more common in women than in men. The duration of an episode of epicondylitis can last from six months to two years. The problems that this pathology causes in a person's daily life are many. Intense pain is present from the height of the elbow to the area of the fingers and in several cases in the middle finger. The pain is intense, sharp and is triggered when the person makes repetitive movements on the wrist and elbow.    

It mainly affects manual occupations that require repetitive use of the phalangeal joint and fingers such as musician, computer programmer, mechanic which are some of the most common.

People who participate in sports that require the use of equipment, especially racquetball (tennis, padel) are very likely to suffer from epicondylitis. People who play mainly the aforementioned sports should pay attention to their technique, their muscular condition and the correct choice of equipment in order to minimize the chances of developing this pathology. It has also been observed in various studies how important a role is played by ergonomics in the workplace of people suffering from this condition.

The stages of this pathology are divided into the following phases:

  • Subacute phase: lasts from approximately three weeks to six months.
  • Chronic phase: lasts approximately six months or more.

Most patients belong to the second phase, i.e. the chronic phase, as the symptoms last for long periods of time because they are slow to realise the extent of their problem, believing that it will go away on its own. Surgery is only performed on patients who have not responded to the conservative treatment that has been followed and the symptoms remain at the same level.

Useful tips until you visit your physiotherapist and start your first physiotherapy sessions are:

  • Resting the limb and using an elbow splint.
  • Apply ice at regular intervals during the day.
  • Wrapping the joint using special elastic kinesiotaping tapes.
  • Stretching of the soft tissue structures.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as ultrasound are two imaging diagnostic tools by which the extent of tissue damage in epicondylitis can be observed.

There are over forty different physiotherapeutic methods and techniques for the treatment of epicondylitis. It is an undeniable fact that by using a combination of therapeutic machines and techniques we get the best results in reducing the symptoms of our patients. The reduction in pain is visible after a few physiotherapy sessions as the person is much freer to make movements of daily life where previously they were painful and laborious. Consult a specialist and treat the pathology of epicondylitis immediately, improving your daily life. Consult us even for ergonomic advice by properly shaping your workplace.