What Is Tennis Elbow?
Lateral epicondylitis, which is more commonly known as “Tennis Elbow”, usually is first felt when the elbow becomes sore and tender. Usually the pain is especially felt when the patient tries to extend their arm completely. Typically either repetitive motion or a sudden injury, like a hyperextension or a pull on the lower arm, can lead to tennis elbow. Either way it is caused, damage has been done to the tendon that attaches to the lateral epicondyle, which is a bony prominence on the outside of the elbow. The typical symptoms of tennis elbow are:
- Outer elbow pain
- Stiffness, especially early in the day
- Pain when grasping an item or moving the wrist
- Extending the arm or wrist completely causes pain
- A tender spot on the elbow
- Forearm weakness
- Opening jars or doors causes pain
How Did I Get Tennis Elbow? I Don’t Even Own A Racquet
Tennis elbow was first given its name from a medical paper published in 1883, which called the injury,“lawn-tennis elbow.” The name has stuck with the condition, but it is not truly descriptive of the majority of people who get the injury. Almost anyone can receive this injury especially those who work in a job or plays a sport that requires repetitive motion or has the potential for a forceful extension of the arm. Anyone from plumbers to food service workers to racquetball players have the potential for tennis elbow injuries.
