Tennis elbow is a bothersome injury that occurs as a result of overuse of the elbow. Though it isn’t just a tennis injury, this condition does commonly cause athletes to experience pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow. Tennis elbow has long been treated with cortisone injections and other Band Aid solutions, but PRP offers an exciting and innovative way to actually heal tennis elbow.

Why Does Tennis Elbow Develop?

Tennis elbow develops over time from repeated motions of the arm and wrist. Those movements create small tears in the tendon that attaches the forearm muscles to the bony portion of the outer elbow. Lateral epicondylitis is generically known as tennis elbow since incorrect tennis technique causes the power in the swing of a racquet to increase pressure on the tendon, trigger irritation and inflammation, and gradually lead to tears in the tendon.

For tennis players and other athletes and professionals who continually move their arm and wrist in a manner that tears the tendon, the extensor muscles become very painful due to the tendon breakdown. Eventually, even simple tasks like holding a cup of coffee, turning a doorknob, and gripping objects become painful due to pain radiating from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist.

Why Traditional Treatments Don’t Work

Orthopedic expert Dr. William Bennett has always avoided recommending cortisone injections for tennis elbow. Though cortisone does alleviate pain, it causes sustained damage to the tissue over time, and multiple injections may lead to further deterioration of the tissue and need for surgery. NSAIDS, ice, and compression help minimize pain but cannot eliminate the root causes of tennis elbow.

PRP Treatment for Tennis Elbow

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an innovative regenerative medicine treatment that has successfully been used to heal elbow injuries for years. Studies now show that PRP has a more beneficial effect on tennis elbow than cortisone treatments.

PRP injections deliver concentrated blood platelets into the site of the injury. Platelets are so powerful because they secrete growth factors and other proteins that regulate healthy cell division, stimulate tissue regeneration, and promote healing beyond what the body can normally achieve.

If you need help recovering from tennis elbow, Dr. William Bennett can use PRP to support dep and ongoing healing in your elbow joint. Call (941) 229-1648 to make an appointment at Bennett Orthopedics and Sportsmedicine in Sarasota, Venice, or Bradenton, Florida. Dr. Bennett is committed to using the most effective treatments available to help you regain physical comfort.