Tennis elbow
| Tennis elbow | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Lateral epicondylitis, lateral elbow tendinopathy, pickleball elbow |
| Left elbow-joint. (Lateral epicondyle visible at center.) | |
| Specialty | Orthopedics, sports medicine |
| Symptoms | Painful and tender outer part of the elbow |
| Usual onset | Gradual |
| Duration | Less than 1 to 2 years |
| Causes | Middle age (ages 35-60). |
| Diagnostic method | Symptoms and physical examination |
| Differential diagnosis | Osteoarthritis |
| Treatment | Nothing is proved to alter the natural course of the disease. Exercises, braces, ice or heat, and medications may be palliative. |
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis is an enthesopathy (attachment point disease) of the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis on the lateral epicondyle. It causes pain and tenderness over the bony part of the lateral epicondyle. Symptoms range from mild tenderness to severe, persistent pain. The pain may also extend into the back of the forearm. It usually has a gradual onset, but it can seem sudden and be misinterpreted as an injury.
Tennis elbow is often idiopathic. Its cause and pathogenesis are unknown. It likely involves tendinosis, a degeneration of the local tendon.
It is thought this condition is caused by excessive use of the muscles of the back of the forearm, but this is not supported by evidence. It may be associated with work or sports, classically racquet sports (including paddle sports), but most people with the condition are not exposed to these activities. The diagnosis is based on the symptoms and examination. Medical imaging is not very useful.
Untreated enthesopathy usually resolves in 1–2 years. Treating the symptoms and pain involves medications such as NSAIDS or acetaminophen, a wrist brace, or a strap over the upper forearm. The role of corticosteroid injections as a form of treatment is still debated. Recent studies suggests that corticosteroid injections may delay symptom resolution.