The older athlete with tennis elbow. Rehabilitation considerations

Athletic injury in the older adult community is likely to have more serious repercussions than a similar injury in a young adult because of age-related change. A balance between adequate rest and restoration of movement and strength must be established. Recovery from an athletic injury should be expected, but older tissues take more time to heal. Rest, cold application, avoidance of stressful movements, and compression are known to be highly effective for alleviating symptoms, but other modalities may further enhance recovery. To avoid reinjury and further complications, strength and ROM must be fully restored in the older adult athlete. A careful evaluation of causative factors, treatment efficacy, and the recovery phase is imperative.