Tennis elbow

Overview

Tennis elbow, also known as Lateral epicondylitis or Lateral elbow tendinopathy, occurs when the tendon that connects your forearm muscle to the bone at the outer elbow has a tear due to repetitive movements of the elbow and wrist. This condition causes painful elbow which sometimes extends to the forearm and wrist, and does not only affect athletes but also workers who regularly use their elbow, forearm or wrist.

 Symptoms

The following are the symptoms of tennis elbow. You may experience pain or weakness during:

• Doing housework
• Holding or gripping anything
• Twisting the doorknob
• Holding a glass or cup
• Handshaking

If you have already tried taking over-the-counter medicine for pain relief, cold compression and have taken enough rest but the pain does not subside, it is recommended to see the doctor.

Risk factors

People who are more at risk of developing tennis elbow are the following:

• Most common in adults between 30 to 50 years old
• Workers who use their elbows, arms and wrists in a repetitive manner (e.g. musicians, butchers, carpenters, plumbers, painters, gardeners, etc.).
• Athletes or sports enthusiasts who play sports which involve using a racket or sports gear using the hand. Poor handling and movement create more risk.