On 06-Apr-95, Roy Bunnell was overheard whispering to All

 RB> As a 51-year-old hacker who swings way too hard and is now
 RB> paying the price, I have a case of tennis elbow. Doc says
 RB> exercise hand with spring grip device while arm is bent, lay off
 RB> tennis a couple of weeks, take Aleve a couple of times per day.
 RB> Any other ideas out there?

Reduce activity.  Use a radio-humeral support.  Ice to the "hot spot"
when acute, then moist heat and cross-friction massage. Take your
finger and go 90 degrees to the muscle that attaches to the protruding
bone on your elbow (lateral epicondyle). Do this about 3-5 times a day
for 1 minute.

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   +---> Greetings from Ray Gingo

.!. When all else fails, blame it on Bo.

: On 06-Apr-95, Roy Bunnell was overheard whispering to All

:  RB> As a 51-year-old hacker who swings way too hard and is now
:  RB> paying the price, I have a case of tennis elbow. Doc says
:  RB> exercise hand with spring grip device while arm is bent, lay off
:  RB> tennis a couple of weeks, take Aleve a couple of times per day.
:  RB> Any other ideas out there?

: Reduce activity.  Use a radio-humeral support.  Ice to the "hot spot"
: when acute, then moist heat and cross-friction massage. Take your
: finger and go 90 degrees to the muscle that attaches to the protruding
: bone on your elbow (lateral epicondyle). Do this about 3-5 times a day
: for 1 minute.

I agree with the above. Add a few items.
        1. When you DO go back to tennis, consider getting a raquet that
        affords a softer feel and is lighter as well. (eg hammer 5.0)
        (makes a BIG difference)

        2. Consider getting the raquet strung at 55 -> 60 lbs for shock
        reduction. Consult your pro re the tension for your raquet. Lower
        tension provides more natural power from the strings.

        3. Carry the raquet in your LEFT hand between points (assuming you
        are right handed).

        4. Don't hit the ball LATE in the swing. Many people hit the ball
        too late in the stroke. That produces undue stress on the arm
        (trying to suddenly catch up to the proper position in the stroke)
        Start the stroke early and swing SMOOTHLY thru the motion. Let the
        raquet provide the power you need to produce the shot.

Good Luck with your game...
Tom Stephenson

--
'You can't roller skate in a Buffalo herd, but you can be happy if you've
a mind to - ' Roger Miller

: Reduce activity.  Use a radio-humeral support.  Ice to the "hot spot"
: when acute, then moist heat and cross-friction massage. Take your
: finger and go 90 degrees to the muscle that attaches to the protruding
: bone on your elbow (lateral epicondyle). Do this about 3-5 times a day
: for 1 minute.

What is a radio-humeral support?  Where do I obtain one?

        Some of these supports are made of stretchy material, there are
others with a little air bladder in them that you can inflate or deflate
depending on how much support you need.  I prefer the latter.

        The one thing to keep in mind is that these supports work by
taking the pressure off the real insertion of the wrist and finger
extensor muscles by providing a more distal point of pull.  While this
can be very helpful, it is not a replacement for treating the problem itself.

        Maybe I'm biased because I'm a physical therapist, but I would
advise you to get some advice from a PT as to how you can address the
problem itself and avoid re-injury in the future.

        Regards,

        Christine Wade