INTRODUCTION​

• Lateral Epicondylitis, more commonly known as tennis elbow, is a condition affecting the outer part of the elbow

• It is an overuse injury that leads to tendinosis and degeneration of the extensor tendons of the forearm and wrist, specifically extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB)

• While tennis elbow can affect 50% of tennis players, most cases occur in patients who don’t play tennis

• Contrary to popular opinion, tennis elbow is not an inflammatory condition

• 1-3% of adults per year experience tennis elbow

CAUSES

• Repetitive wrist and forearm motion, gripping activities, and lifting activities increase the chance of developing tennis elbow

• In tennis players, poor swing technique, using heavier rackets, and increased racket string tension are associated with tennis elbow pain 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Pain over the collarbone

• Tenderness over the collarbone 

• Prominence or deformity of the collarbone, oftentimes with skin tenting, can be present

TREATMENT​​

• The mainstay of treatment for lateral epicondylitis is conservative management 

• Physical Therapy is the foundation of conservative management. Stretching exercises help loosen the tension on the bone where the tendons insert on the elbow

• Counterforce braces are helpful in dissipating the forces on the area of injury

• Corticosteroid injections can decrease pain

• Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) has promising results for the treatment of lateral epicondylitis. Numerous high-quality studies show improvement in symptoms and many show a significant improvement compared to other conservative options

• Surgery is indicated in patients with persistent symptoms and functional impairment that have failed at least 6 months of conservative management

PREVENTION​

• Avoid repetitive activities involving wrist extension

• Maintain an elbow, forearm, and wrist stretching program 

• In tennis players, improving swing technique, using lighter rackets, and decreasing racket string tension can decrease the pain associated with tennis elbow