Tennis Elbow ( Lateral/Outside Elbow Pain)

Tennis elbow/lateral epicondylalgia is located on the outside of the elbow and is the result of overload and overuse of the wrist extensor muscles.

The condition can appear in tennis players, however, it appears in a significantly larger population group including tradespeople, DIY home tasks and golfers.

The condition refers to pain caused by a change in the tendon’s structure, due to an increase in load and activity.

It is important to note that lateral epicondylagia is often a much easier condition to diagnose than to treat.

Rehabilitation often requires persistence, exercises and activity modification and takes time.

Anatomy

The symptoms are generally felt through the common extensor tendon on the outside of the elbow and may radiate further into the back of the forearm.

Tennis Elbow Cause

An increase in load beyond the capabilities of the individuals’ tendon when overusing or doing something requiring repetitive gripping or twisting is often the cause.

This sudden change in intensity, frequency or duration of the work/sport activity, or c a subtle change in manual working conditions will overload the tendon causing injury.

Treatment

Treatment for lateral epicondylagia often involves more than a ‘wait it out’ or rest approach.

Your physiotherapist will assess the elbow, as well as the neck and whole upper limb and provide hands-on treatment to provide some short-term symptomatic relief, as well as exercises and/or a loading program to rehabilitate the tendons of the elbow.

Treatment and the amount of load (exercise or daily activity) recommended will depend on the individual, severity of the symptoms, length of time of the symptoms and the ability to modify your activity.