How to Sleep with Tennis Elbow

If you play tennis regularly, you have likely experienced tennis elbow at least once. Otherwise known as lateral epicondylitis, this painful condition can cause excessive discomfort raising the issue on how to  sleep with tennis elbow! In the worst cases, the symptoms of tennis elbow can impact your sleep schedule. If you are finding that tennis elbow is keeping you awake at night, there are thankfully a few things you can do to alleviate the issue and enjoy better sleep.

Simple Steps for Alleviating Tennis Elbow

Many people adopt a side position when sleeping. However, this position can exacerbate the symptoms of tennis elbow significantly. You should avoid sleeping on the side of your body affected by tennis elbow at all times. When you lie on your side and apply excess pressure to the affected arm, you will minimize the amount of blood that can circulate to the damaged tendons. This has a huge impact on healing time, especially when you consider that sleep is generally when most healing takes place. To overcome this issue, simply sleep on your back. This will remove a huge amount of pressure from the arm suffering from tennis elbow and will allow blood to circulate more freely to damaged tendons.

Supporting the Elbow and how to Sleep with Tennis Elbow

You can of course choose to sleep on the side that is not affected by tennis elbow. Although this will overcome the issue of unwanted pressure restricting blood flow to your tendons, it is not without its own unique problems. If you decide to sleep on the side that is not affected by tennis elbow, you still have to deal with additional strain placed on the muscles of the upper arm. This can result in increased discomfort in the tendons found in these muscles. This position should also be avoided as you can easily move your injured arm in your sleep. One common occurrence is that the forearm can become twisted, which places significant amounts of stress on injured tendons. If you must sleep on your side, use a pillow as a stable support for your injured arm. This will not only reduce the amount of tension in the upper arm, but also ensure the forearm remains in a more stable position during the night.

Wearing Brace Supports

Investing in a brace is another option for those who are struggling to enjoy comfortable sleep while suffering with tennis elbow. The majority of braces fit comfortably on the forearm, capping off slightly before the elbow. Braces provide superior support for the muscles in the forearm and will help ensure your tendons are not exposed to excessive pressure during the night. This will instantly alleviate the pain and discomfort that is the main cause of restless nights for those suffering from tennis elbow. Another huge benefit of support braces is that they prevent the muscles found in the forearm from contracting too much. If you are a restless sleeper who tends to clench their fingers or fists during the night, this will help ensure you do not make existing injuries worse.