Tennis ElbowSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is soreness or pain on the outside (lateral) side of the upper arm near the elbow.
Epitrochlear bursitis; Lateral epicondylitis; Epicondylitis - lateral; Tendonitis - elbow
The part of the muscle that attaches to a bone is called a tendon. Some of the muscles in your forearm attach to the bone on the outside of your elbow.
When you use these muscles over and over again, small tears may develop in the tendon. Over time, the tendon cannot heal, and this leads to irritation and pain where the tendon is attached to the bone.
This injury is common in people who play a lot of tennis or other racket sports, hence the name tennis elbow. Backhand is the most common stroke to cause symptoms.
But any activity that involves repetitive twisting of the wrist (like using a screwdriver) can lead to this condition. Painters, plumbers, construction workers, cooks, and butchers are all more likely to develop tennis elbow.
This condition may also be due to repetitive typing on the computer keyboard and mouse use.
People age 35 to 54 years old are commonly affected.
Sometimes, there is no known cause of tennis elbow.
Symptoms can include any of the following:
- Elbow pain that gets worse over time
- Pain that radiates from the outside of the elbow to the forearm and back of the hand when grasping or twisting
- Weak grip
The first step is to rest your arm for 2 or 3 weeks and avoid or modify the activity that causes your symptoms. You may also want to:
- Put ice on the outside of your elbow 2 or 3 times a day. Cover the painful area with a towel, and place the ice on it for 15 minutes. Do not fall asleep while applying the ice. You can get frostbite if you leave it on too long.
- Take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, or aspirin.
If your tennis elbow is due to sports activity, you may want to:
- Ask your provider about any changes you can make to your technique.
- Check the sports equipment you are using to see if any changes may help. If you play tennis, changing the grip size of the racket may help.
- Think about how often you play, and whether you should cut back or cross train.
If your symptoms are related to working on a computer, ask your manager about changing your workstation or your chair, desk, and computer setup. For example, a wrist support or a roller mouse may help.
A physical therapist can show you exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles of your forearm.
You can buy a special brace (counter force brace) for tennis elbow at most drugstores. It wraps around the upper part of your forearm and takes some of the pressure off the muscles.
Your provider may also inject cortisone and a numbing medicine around the area where the tendon attaches to the bone. This may help decrease the swelling and pain.
If the pain continues after rest and treatment, surgery to repair or remove the injured tendon may be recommended. Talk with your orthopedic surgeon about the risks and whether surgery might help.
Sideline Orthopedics And Sports
Sarah Kennedy, D.O., is a veteran of the United States Navy. Her military career began in 2005, when she reported to Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton to complete a family medicine internship. Her training continued at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Fla., where she earned her flight surgeon wings. She spent the remainder of her operational career as the medical department head and senior medical officer at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. Fellowship-trained in primary care sports medicine.</li> Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine.</li> Serves as team physician for several area high schools and USA Judo.</li> Serves as event physician for multiple races and competitions around the Metroplex.</li></ul>Kennedy received an honorable discharge in 2010, and went on to complete her medical training in family medicine at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and her primary care sports medicine fellowship at the University of California in San Diego. She is board-certified in both family medicine and primary care sports medicine, and has a Certificate of Added Qualification in sports medicine.Kennedy's areas of special focus include musculoskeletal ultrasound, ultrasound-guided injections, osteopathic manipulative treatments, concussion management, platelet-rich plasma treatment, non-operative fracture management, and energy deficiency in sports, among other issues related to athletics and sports play.She has experience treating one of the most diverse athletic populations in the country including athletes of all ages and all performance levels, in sports ranging from football and basketball to ice hockey and rugby. Kennedy currently serves as a team physician for several area high schools, USA Judo, boxing, and multiple endurance events around the Metroplex. Dr. Kennedy is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. She is also highly rated in 4 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Tennis Elbow, Tendinitis, Concussion, and Rhizarthrosis.
Texas Health Orthopedic Specialists
Dr. Katherine Kester is a board-certified family physician fellowship-trained in primary care sports medicine. Her areas of special interest and focus include comprehensive concussion care, nonsurgical treatment of osteoarthritis, and acute muscular injuries. As a primary care sports medicine physician, Dr. Katherine Kester believes that better health leads to better performance — in sports and in life. She currently serves on the medical staff for FC Dallas and Collin College, as well as several local high schools. She has previously provided medical coverage for the CONCACAF Gold Cup and She Believes Cups, other international soccer matches, and multiple NCAA Championship events (FCS Football, Basketball, and Gymnastics). She has previously served on the medical staffs for TCU, FWISD, Arlington ISD, National Collegiate Wrestling Championships, and Golden Gloves Boxing. Dr. Kester is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, Texas Medical Association, and the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Kester is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. She is also highly rated in 5 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Tendinitis, Concussion, Tennis Elbow, and Bursitis.
Texas Health Orthopedic Specialists
Andrew Parker is a Sports Medicine specialist and an Orthopedics provider practicing medicine in Allen, Texas. Dr. Parker is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Tennis Elbow. He is also highly rated in 9 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Tendinitis, Osteoarthritis, Frozen Shoulder, Bursitis, and Hip Replacement.
Most elbow pain gets better without surgery. But most people who have surgery have full use of their forearm and elbow afterwards.
Contact your provider for an appointment if:
- This is the first time you have had these symptoms
- Home treatment does not relieve the symptoms
Background: Lateral epicondylitis is a common musculoskeletal condition characterized by pain and functional impairment of the elbow, often associated with degenerative changes in the common extensor tendon. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) are widely used noninvasive treatment modalities; however, comparative evidence regarding their clinical and structural effects ...
Summary: This prospective, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy of Capacitive and Resistive Energy Transfer (TECAR) therapy in patients with lateral epicondylitis. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a TECAR plus exercise group or a sham TECAR plus exercise group. Both groups will receive a standardized home exercise program including elbow and...
Published Date: August 27, 2024
Published By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Adams JE, Steinmann SP. Elbow tendinopathies and tendon ruptures. In: Wolfe SW, Pederson WC, Kozin SH, Cohen MS, eds. Green's Operative Hand Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25.
Biundo JJ, Canoso JJ. Bursitis, tendinopathy, other periarticular disorders, and sports medicine. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 242.
Miller RH, Azar FM, Throckmorton TW. Shoulder and elbow injuries. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 46.