Further Outpatient Care
See the list below:
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The patient should be seen for follow-up about 2-3 weeks after the initial evaluation to make sure that symptoms are subsiding and to determine whether the patient is ready to begin the reconditioning phase of his/her rehabilitation.
Deterrence
See the list below:
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Patient education is a key element in preventing the recurrence of symptoms. Patients often have to modify the activities or the particular techniques that have led them to develop ME.
Prognosis
See the list below:
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Overall, the prognosis is good, with few patients needing to progress to steroid injection and even fewer (typically less than 10%) needing surgical intervention to find relief. [16]
Patient Education
See the list below:
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Patient education is an essential part of the rehabilitation process and is an important means of preventing the recurrence of symptoms. Patient education includes the following elements:
Modifying equipment (for example, increasing grip size on equipment, such as tennis rackets, golf clubs, and hammers) and using flexible shafts in golf
Modifying activities (such as avoiding repetitive activities that cause medial elbow stress), decreasing grip pressure, decreasing topspin in tennis, and evaluating throwing techniques may be appropriate.
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For excellent patient education resources, see eMedicineHealth's patient education article Tennis Elbow.
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Medial epicondyle.
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Strengthening exercises are performed once pain has subsided with active range of motion. The starting position (slight pronation) of an eccentric exercise for medial epicondylitis is shown. In order to prevent further injury, a trained therapist should instruct patients in exercises to confirm proper weight and technique.
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The eccentric exercise proceeds until full supination has been reached.
