TennisOne Advice

What to do about tennis elbow?

By John Yandell

Since tennis elbow is probably the most common tennis injury, and there's often not one cure for everyone, we are encouraging people who've had this unfortunate affliction to send in their stories and cures. We'll publish those that we feel are relevant to our general audience. To send in your tennis elbow story, email to: tenniselbow@tennisone.com.

My experience with tennis elbow is pretty common from what I've heard. When I was rated 3.0 several years ago, I developed tennis elbow, and was playing about three times a week. I could not hold a drink in my hand without experiencing pain.

I went to see a sport's doctor, he gave me a cortisone shot right into the elbow, something that was quite painful. I stopped playing tennis for two months before I thought I was ready to go back. What a mistake; I had elbow pains right away which taught me not to resume playing too soon. I did not play again for seven more months. Meanwhile, the sport's doctor stated that I probably got tennis elbow from leading with my elbow on the backhand ground stroke.

Stroke Corrections

Upon returning to the courts, I took several private lessons and learned that the sport's doctor was right and developed the two-handed backhand that I still use today. But that was not the only fault with my swing because the tennis elbow started to come back again. On my ground stroke forehand, I was turning my arm over and twisting it too much on the follow-through. Now I finish this shot with the palm of my hand facing the side fence versus the ground.

Racquet Corrections

I learned that my grip size was too small and that a fatter grip helps reduce the possibility of tennis elbow. My racket strings were too tight at 62 pounds so I now have them strung at 55 pounds.

Exercise and Prevention

I learned from the sport doctor to wrap a rubber band around the outside of my fingers and stretch them out against the tension of the rubber band repetitively. If I feel a little pain after I play a game, I put an ice pack on the elbow for 15 minutes. Also, while I am driving, I squeeze a rubber ball to build up the arm.

I plan to play 4.0 USTA tennis this season and I would not be able to accomplish this without doing the work I've done so far with my game. Thank you for the TennisONE Web Site. I've enjoyed it a lot.