Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, affects about 1 to 3 percent of adults each year. If you have this condition, you might worry about stopping your workout routine. But, with the right approach and modifications, you can keep exercising safely.
At Liv Hospital, we know how important it is to keep up with your fitness goals, even with injuries like tennis elbow. Exercise-based rehab is great for managing symptoms and helping you recover. By making safe exercise changes and listening to your body, you can keep your strength and heart health up.
Key Takeaways
- Exercise modifications can help manage tennis elbow symptoms.
- Safe lifting practices are key to avoid making the condition worse.
- With the right approach, you can keep your heart health up.
- Listening to your body’s signals is essential for safe exercising.
- Rehabilitation exercises can help in your recovery.
Understanding Tennis Elbow and Its Impact on Exercise
Knowing what causes tennis elbow is key for those who do weight training and other hard activities. Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is pain on the outer elbow. It happens from too much strain on the tendons.
What Causes Tennis Elbow and Who’s at Risk
Tennis elbow comes from too much use of the forearm muscles and tendons. This leads to pain and discomfort. Activities like gripping, twisting, and lifting can cause it. Research shows it affects many, mainly in sports and heavy work.
Who’s at risk includes:
- Doing repetitive activities without rest
- Using bad technique in sports or weight training
- Working jobs that need manual labor or repetitive actions
Knowing these risks helps prevent and manage symptoms.
How Weight Training Can Aggravate Symptoms
Weight training, like gripping and lifting, can make tennis elbow worse. The tendons get more strain, which can hurt more if not careful. Changing exercises and using the right technique are key to ease symptoms and avoid injury.
Understanding tennis elbow and how weight training can make it worse helps. People can then prevent and manage it, keeping their exercise safe and effective.
Working Out With Tennis Elbow: Safe Exercise Modifications
Exercising with tennis elbow needs careful planning. You should change your routine to avoid making it worse. It’s key to adjust your workout to heal and prevent injury.
Upper Body Exercises to Avoid
Some exercises can make tennis elbow symptoms worse. It’s important to know which ones to avoid. For example, wrist extensions and forearm curls can hurt your elbow. Also, avoid:
- Lifting heavy weights with a grip that’s too tight
- Using equipment with a narrow grip
- Performing exercises that involve twisting or bending the wrist
For more info on exercises to skip, check out Orthobethesda’s guide on avoiding exercises with tennis.
Safe Strength Training Alternatives
Even though some exercises are off-limits, there are safe alternatives. You can try:
- Using lighter weights with higher repetitions
- Focusing on exercises that don’t involve gripping or twisting
- Incorporating low-impact exercises like yoga or Pilates
A study in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that changing exercises can help. It reduces strain on the elbow and eases symptoms.
Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
Proper Form and Grip Modifications
When working out with tennis elbow, proper form and grip are key. This means:
- Using a neutral grip or a grip that’s not too tight
- Avoiding exercises that involve bending or twisting the wrist
- Focusing on controlled, slow movements
Supportive Equipment and Bracing Options
Using supportive equipment and bracing can help protect your elbow. Some options include:
| Equipment | Benefits |
| Wrist wraps | Provide additional support and stability for the wrist |
| Elbow sleeves | Offer compression and support for the elbow |
| Tennis elbow straps | Help reduce strain on the tendons and alleviate pain |
By making these changes, you can safely keep exercising with tennis elbow.
Rehabilitation Exercises and Recovery Strategies
Managing tennis elbow requires adding rehabilitation exercises to your routine. Try wrist turns, towel twists, and fist squeezes to strengthen your forearm. These can help ease your symptoms.
Many people with tennis elbow ask, “can you exercise with tennis elbow?” or “can i exercise with tennis elbow?” Yes, you can, but you need to adjust your workouts. If you lift weights, it’s important to know how to do it safely to avoid making your injury worse.
Combining tennis elbow with weight lifting can be tough, but it’s doable with the right approach. Look for exercises that don’t strain your elbow and forearm too much. If you’re wondering “can i weight train with tennis elbow,” choose safe alternatives and focus on proper form.
By mixing rehabilitation exercises with a modified workout, you can manage tennis elbow symptoms well. Remember, rest and recovery are key to healing. This way, you can get back to your usual activities without pain.
