Tennis Elbow
• Definition
· Tennis Elbow is lateral epicondylitis: inflammation of the epicondyle of the humerus bone (outer aspect of the elbow), which connects to the muscle that extends the forearm.
• Overview
· Tennis Elbow causes pain at the lateral (outside) aspect of the elbow which is worse with extending the wrist as with swinging a tennis racket.
· Tennis Elbow results from trauma or overuse of the elbow and the pain is the result of small tears in the tendons connecting the elbow to the muscles of the forearm.
· Tennis Elbow is more common with increasing age, related to the breakdown of collagen in the tendon in the elbow.
• Symptoms
· Tennis Elbow symptoms include:
· pain in the elbow with extension of the wrist with the hand closed in a fist, similar to the action of swinging a tennis racket.
· pain upon grasping the affected elbow
• Treatment
· nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
· rest
References
van Tulder M et al. Repetitive strain injury. Lancet. 2007 May 26;369(9575):1815-22. [PMID: 17531890]
Posted on September 24, 2008
[...] Elbow pain can result from: · Tennis elbow · arthritis of the elbow joint (osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis) · sprain or strain to the [...]