Tennis elbow

Your elbow might feel sore.

This pain is on the outside of the elbow. It can feel like a burn. It may move down your arm.

It can be hard to grip things. It can also be hard to lift things. This happens when you move your wrist.

Many people get this pain. It is not just from tennis. Some people call it pickleball elbow.

Rest can help you heal. You can also use a strap. This helps your arm feel better.

Tennis elbow is a type of pain in the elbow.

It happens on the outer part of the elbow. This spot is called the lateral epicondyle. The pain may feel like a burn. It can move down your forearm. It can even move up your arm.

Many people get this pain. It is not just from tennis. Some people call it pickleball elbow. It can make your grip feel weak. It may be hard to lift things. This happens when you move your wrist.

Doctors think the pain comes from a tiny tear. This can happen from using your muscles too much. Some studies say sleep positions can make it worse. Pressure on the elbow at night may stop healing.

Most people feel better with rest. You can use medicine to help the pain. Some people wear a brace or a strap.

A counterforce orthosis is a type of strap. It wraps around the arm. It helps by putting pressure on the muscle. A wrist brace helps by keeping the wrist straight. This can help the elbow heal over one or two years.

Tennis elbow is a common cause of pain in the outer elbow.

Doctors call this condition lateral epicondylitis. It happens at a spot called the lateral epicondyle. This is a bony part on the outside of your arm. The pain can feel like a burning sensation. It might move down your forearm or up your arm. Some people feel a weakness in their grip. This can make it hard to lift things. Even though it has a famous name, most people who get it do not play tennis.

How does this pain happen in the body? It involves a muscle called the extensor carpi radialis brevis. This muscle helps move your wrist. The tendon connects this muscle to the bony elbow. Scientists think the pain comes from tiny tears in the tissue. This is called tendinosis, which means the tissue is changing. Some studies suggest that sleep positions play a big role. If you press on your elbow while you sleep, it might stop the tiny tears from healing. This makes the injury feel more like a pressure sore.

Experts have spent a long time naming this condition. In the past, most people used the term lateral epicondylitis. This name uses the suffix "itis," which means inflammation. However, studies show there is not actually much inflammation. Because of this, some experts suggest using the term lateral elbow tendinopathy. In 2019, a group of international experts suggested this new name. They believe it is a more accurate way to describe the tissue changes. Some also call it an enthesopathy, which is a disease of an attachment point.

There are many ways to manage the pain and help it go away.

Most people do not need surgery to get better. Non-operative care works for about 90% of people. You might use medicine like acetaminophen to help with the hurt. Some people use the RICE method, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Physical therapy and special exercises can also help the muscle get stronger. You can try stretching the muscle with a straight elbow. You can also try isometric strengthening by pushing your hand against a table.

Special tools called orthoses can help support your arm.

A counterforce orthosis is a strap that wraps around the arm. It puts pressure on the muscle to help it heal. A wrist extensor orthosis is a brace that keeps the wrist in a slightly straight position. These tools help by reducing the strain on the injured area. Most cases of tennis elbow resolve in one to two years. Changing how you move your hands can also help prevent the pain. Avoiding repetitive motions or heavy lifting with straight arms is a good idea.

Tennis elbow is a common condition that causes pain in the outer elbow.

Doctors often refer to this condition by its formal name, lateral epicondylitis. It is technically an enthesopathy, which is a disease that affects an attachment point where tissue meets bone. Specifically, it involves the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle on the lateral epicondyle. This is the bony bump on the outside of your elbow. The condition matters because the pain can be quite severe and persistent. It can impact a person's ability to perform daily tasks or hold objects.

The mechanism of this pain involves the way muscles and tendons interact. The extensor carpi radialis brevis is the muscle most commonly affected. This muscle helps you move your wrist. Because of its unique position, its tendon is prone to abrasion during elbow movements. This can lead to repetitive microtrauma, which are tiny injuries to the tissue. Some researchers believe the condition is like a pressure sore. They suggest an initial microscopic tear occurs from a strain. If a person sleeps in a position that puts pressure on that spot, it may prevent the injury from healing.

Medical experts have debated how to best describe this condition. For a long time, the term lateral epicondylitis was the most common. However, the suffix "itis" implies inflammation. Studies have shown that this condition is not actually an inflammatory process. Instead, it involves tendinosis, which is a degenerative condition. In tendinosis, the body replaces normal tissue with a disorganized arrangement of collagen. Because of this, many prefer the term lateral elbow tendinopathy. In 2019, a group of international experts suggested this as the most appropriate name. Some also call it an enthesopathy because it affects the enthesis, or the attachment point.

Doctors use clinical evaluations to diagnose the condition. They look for specific signs, such as tenderness at the origin of the extensor carpi radialis brevis. A common method is called Cozen's test. During this test, a patient performs a resisted wrist extension with their elbow extended. If this movement triggers pain at the lateral aspect of the elbow, the test is considered positive. While medical imaging like X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI can show changes in the tendon, they are not usually necessary for a diagnosis. X-rays might show calcification, while an ultrasound can reveal thickening or tears in the tissue.

There are several phases of pain that patients may experience. In Phase I, pain is mild and occurs only after activity. It usually recovers within 24 hours. By Phase V, the pain is harmful and occurs during daily activities. It has a great negative impact on performance. In the most severe stage, Phase VII, the pain is consistent even at rest. This stage can disturb sleep and is aggravated by any activity. Most untreated cases of this enthesopathy will resolve within one to two years. However, the intensity of the pain can significantly change a person's quality of life.

Treatment focuses mostly on non-operative care, which helps about 90% of patients.

One method is the RICE method, which stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Physical therapy is also common. This includes stretching the muscle with a straight elbow or using isometric strengthening. You can perform isometric exercises by pushing the top of your hand against a table.

Orthoses, or supportive devices, can also be used. A counterforce orthosis is a strap that applies binding force over the muscle origin. A wrist extensor orthosis keeps the wrist in slight extension to reduce strain.

Medication is another way to manage the symptoms. Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications can be effective within four weeks. Some doctors use corticosteroid injections for short-term relief. However, the use of these injections is debated. Recent studies suggest they might actually delay how quickly symptoms go away. Repeated injections can even lead to muscle atrophy or tendon rupture. Therefore, clinicians must be cautious when using them. To prevent the condition, it is best to modify activities. Avoiding repetitive motions and heavy lifting with extended arms can help protect the elbow.