Tennis elbow: Use training, not drugs

GOTHENBURG, Sweden, Dec. 23 (UPI) -- A Swedish researcher advises treating tennis elbow with training and ergonomic advice rather than anti-inflammatory drugs and cortisone shots.

Pia Nilsson of the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, in Sweden, sent questionnaires to healthcare professionals -- including doctors, surgeons and physiotherapists -- about treatments used when they suffered tennis elbow.

"It became clear that treatment with medication has side effects in many cases," Nilsson says in a statement.

Nilsson, as part of her thesis, studied test results for a new structured training program -- involving 78 patients in a pilot study and 297 in the follow-up study -- to build up elbow and hand muscles.

In addition, Nilsson learned ergonomic advice helped patients adapt. For instance, a wrist support made it possible to continue working. Pain caused by sleeping with bent elbows was prevented with a night bandage that also helped muscle healing.

"A treatment program designed by a physiotherapist and occupational therapist together reduces the patients' pain, increases the function of the elbow and hand, and reduces the duration of sick leave," Nilsson says. "This program heals tennis elbow better than cortisone injections. The method can provide benefits to the patient, the employer and society in general."