Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis is a painful condition in the elbow. The lateral epicondylitis is a small point or projection on the outside of the humerus bone in the upper arm. The pain from this condition is mainly caused by injured or damaged tendons near the elbow.
Tendons are strong bands of tissue that attach muscles to bones. They can become inflamed due to repetitive motions or twisting, causing a painful condition called tendonitis.
Tennis Elbow Is Caused By Movements of the Forearm Muscles
Tennis elbow can be linked to movements by the muscles of the forearm that are attached to the tendons that connect them to the epicondyles, two small projections just above the elbow joint. Muscles connected to the outer or lateral epicondyles are responsible for straightening the fingers, bending the wrist upwards and rolling the forearm so that the palm faces upwards.
Muscles connected to the inner or medial epicondyles are responsible for bending the fingers, bending the wrist downwards and rolling the forearm so that the palm faces downwards.
These tendon attachment points may become overextended or overloaded when the forearm muscles are used repetitively in quick, powerful or jerky motions such as gripping, throwing or lifting. This is common in tennis and baseball players, weight lifters and other athletes.
Prolonged or Forceful Movements of the Forearm and Hand May Cause Symptoms
Tennis elbow is also associated with jobs that require repeat or forceful movements of the fingers, wrist and forearm such as vehicle and aircraft mechanics, electricians, plumbers and carpenters.
Risk factors for tennis elbow include holding, twising or moving the arm in a repetitive, fixed or awkward position or with excessive force. Specific movements that increase the risk for this elbow condition include:
- simultaneous rotation of the forearm and bending of the wrist
- prolonged forceful gripping of an object along with inward or outward movement of the forearm
- jerky, sudden throwing motions
- movements to hit objects with the hand or something held in the hand
Symptoms and Treatment For Tennis Elbow
Signs and symptoms of tennis elbow include tenderness and pain on the outer side of the elbow. Pain is worsened when bending the wrist while straightening the elbow joint and when straightening the fingers and hand. There is normally not any outward sign of redness or swelling. Symptoms may appear gradually over years of repetitive strain or suddenly when trying a new activity or work.
Treatment is important as soon as symptoms of tennis elbow appear, to prevent severe pain and discomfort.
- rest from the activities that cause symtoms
- reducing inflammation with an ice pack or cold compress.
- physiotherapy to assess the healing process and movement of the arm and elbow joint
- anti-inflammatory pain medications
- corticosteroid injections are given for severe inflammation
The most common treatment for tennis elbow is rest and this clears up most cases. In very rare instances, this condition can last for longer than a year and may require surgery. However, the surgery does not always improve symptoms.
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Reference:
Noreen Kassem - Noreen Kassem is a hospital doctor based in London, UK. She has extensive experience in clinical research and an undergraduate honors ...
