What is Tennis Elbow?

We’ve all heard of “tennis elbow,” but do you know what causes it and how physical therapy can help?

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is inflammation of the forearm tendons on the outside of the elbow. They usually become damaged from overuse when performing repetitive activities involving gripping, and not just when playing tennis. The damage can also be caused from excessive turning of the wrist when using tools or typing on a computer keyboard and clicking a mouse. This leads to microtears of the lateral elbow tendons, creating pain, tenderness and inflammation at the outside of the elbow.

The symptoms of tennis elbow feel mild at first and progress gradually over weeks to months. There is usually no trauma or specific cause associated with it, but these symptoms can persist and become chronic in nature if not properly treated. Common symptoms include:

  • Pain and tenderness at the outside of the elbow
  • Burning into the forearm musculature
  • Pain with gripping or carrying items
  • Decreased grip strength
  • Pain with rotation of the elbow or wrist
Common symptoms of tennis elbow include pain and tenderness at the outside of the elbow and pain with gripping or carrying items.

These symptoms usually worsen with forceful gripping or repetitive activities. Because this condition can become debilitating, people should seek immediate medical care if experiencing any of the above symptoms for longer than two weeks, to alleviate the condition and prevent further damage. Approximately 80 – 90% of tennis elbow cases are resolved using non-surgical procedures, such as physical therapy, rest, and medication.  Read More


Tags: , ,