New exercise may relieve tennis elbow

KEYSTONE, Colo., July 11 (UPI) -- A simple exercise may alleviate pain from tennis elbow, researchers said at an orthopedic symposium in Keystone, Colo., Saturday.

An inexpensive rubber bar is the tool used in a novel exercise that strengthens the muscles in the elbow and forearm, Timothy F. Tyler, a clinical research associate of the Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York, said at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's annual meeting.

Tyler's team separated 21 patients with tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, into two groups. Both received wrist-extensor muscle stretching, ultrasound, massage, heat and ice for treatment.

One group did wrist-extensor strengthening using the rubber bar. The other did isotonic strengthening exercises. Patients using the bar had better results, Tyler said.

"Compared to other treatments for tennis elbow, such as cortisone injections or topical nitric oxide, which require direct medical supervision, this treatment is not only cost-effective but dosage is not limited by the patient having to come to a clinic," Tyler said in a statement.