Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is swelling of the tendons that bend your wrist backward away from your palm.
A tendon is a tough cord of tissue that connects muscles to bones. The tendon most likely affected in tennis elbow is called the exterior carpi radialis brevis. Tennis elbow is usually diagnosed in people between ages 30 and 50.
Tennis elbow, as the name implies, is often caused by the force of the tennis racket hitting balls in the backhand position. Your forearm muscles, which attach to the outside of your elbow, may become sore from excessive strain. When making a backhand stroke in tennis, the tendons that roll over the end of your elbow can become damaged. Tennis elbow may be caused by:
- Incorrect backhand stroke
- Weak shoulder and wrist muscles
- Using a tennis racket that is too tightly strung or too short
- Other racquet sports, like racquetball or squash
- Hitting the ball off center on the racket, or hitting heavy, wet balls
Many people who suffer from tennis elbow don’t play tennis. The problem can be caused by any repetitive movement. Other causes of tennis elbow include:
- Painting with a brush or roller
- Working a chainsaw
- Frequent use of other hand tools on a regular basis
- Using repeated hand motions in various types of work. Some examples are butchers, musicians, dentists, auto workers, and carpenters.
- The following are the most common symptoms of tennis elbow. You may experience symptoms differently.
- At first you may have pain, burning, or an ache along the outside of your forearm and elbow. Over time, the pain gets worse. If you keep doing the activity that caused your condition, the pain may spread down to your wrist, even at rest. Pain may also persist when you place your arm and hand palm-down on a table, and then try to raise your hand against resistance. You may also feel pain when you try to lift and grip small objects, such as a coffee cup. A weak grip is another symptom of tennis elbow.
- These symptoms can be caused by other health conditions. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
