What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury most often associated with tennis, but it can result from many other activities that involve the repeated action of flexing and extending the forearm. Tennis elbow arises due to the repeated contraction of the muscles of the forearm. This repeated motion can cause stress to the tissue and ultimately lead to inflammation or tears in the tendons that attach the muscles of the forearm to the bone at the outside of the elbow. Symptoms of tennis elbow most often come on gradually with mild pain in the beginning that may worsen over months.

Common symptoms to be aware of include:

• Pain on the outer part of your elbow

• Weakened grip

• Pain when you extend your wrist

• Forearm weakness

• An inability to hold certain objects