Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain around the outside of the elbow.
The medical name for tennis elbow is lateral epicondylitis or epicondylalgia because the pain is felt around the part of the humerus bone called the lateral epicondyle. In most cases, it is not possible (nor necessary) to specify exactly where the pain comes from.
Many people who get tennis elbow work in a way or play sport that involves moving their arm in a repetitive way. Examples include activities that involve:
- Fine, repetitive hand and wrist movements, such as using scissors or typing.
- Repeatedly bending the elbow, such as playing the violin, cutting with a knife or using a paintbrush.
- Twisting movements such as wringing clothes or using a screwdriver.
- Playing racquet sports, such as tennis, badminton or squash (despite being called tennis elbow, racquet sports like tennis are only thought to be the cause in about 5 in 100 cases).
- Throwing sports, such as the javelin or discus.
Tennis elbow can also occur:
- After a knock or a bang to the elbow.
- If you suddenly do a lot of something you’re not used to, for example, lots of gardening or playing tennis while on holiday.
The main symptom of tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the upper forearm just below the bend of your elbow. You may also:
- feel pain travelling from the outside of แทงบอล UFABET ราคาดีที่สุด ไม่มีขั้นต่ำ the elbow towards the wrist when twisting your forearm, for example when opening a jar
- have pain when lifting, bending or extending your arm
- find it difficult to grip items like pens
- notice stiffness in the affected arm.
Given rest and time, tennis elbow can get better on its own. A full recovery made in most cases within a year.
Visit your healthcare provider or physiotherapist if the pain continues after you have rested the elbow for one to two weeks, if there is throbbing pain that keeps you awake at night or if you notice wasting of your forearm muscles.
To diagnose tennis elbow, your healthcare provider will examine you for
- pain or tenderness when they feel the tendons and muscles at the upper arm bone, over the outside of the elbow
- pain near the elbow. When the wrist is bent backwards. When you grip a hand (as in a handshake).