Conservative therapy for tennis elbow

Tennis elbow is a common overuse syndrome. It is accompanied by degenerative changes in the enthesis of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle. It may be best diagnosed clinically by eliminating other possible causes of lateral elbow pain. Physical methods should always be selected as initial treatment. Immobilisation is the initial advice that most doctors give: ultrasound has been shown to be effective in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, and low energy laser has been found to reduce objective but not subjective symptoms. Other forms of physical treatment like electrotherapy, thermotherapy and massages can be tried, even though proof of their efficacy needs to be established more firmly. When physical treatments have failed, steroid injections can help. If symptoms still persist, then surgery is called for. There are still many open questions surrounding the syndrome of tennis elbow. Research into this common soft tissue disease should be intensified.