Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylalgia)
Pain on the outside of the elbow from overload of the wrist-extensor tendons.
Overview
Tennis elbow is a common overload condition of the tendons on the outer elbow. Despite the name, it is more often related to repetitive gripping and lifting than to tennis. It responds well to progressive loading over time.
Symptoms
- Pain on the outer elbow
- Pain with gripping, lifting or wrist extension
- Tenderness over the bony point on the outer elbow
- Weak or painful grip
Causes
- Repetitive gripping and wrist loading
- Sudden increase in manual activity
- Tendon deconditioning
Treatment
- Load management and activity modification
- Progressive wrist-extensor loading
- Grip and forearm strengthening
- Bracing or injection as adjuncts