Lateral Epicondylitis
Tennis Elbow
What is tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis?
The elbow is the insertion site of two major muscle groups of the forearm – the extensor tendons on the lateral side and the flexor tendons on the medial side.
The insertion site is called the epicondyle and in this region the common extensor tendon is subjected to repetitive tensile forces.
The medical term lateral epicondylitis represents the degeneration, inflammation, tears, and ruptures of the common extensor tendon caused by these forces.
This problem is more common in professions that require repeated movements of the wrist and hand, and is also called “tennis elbow” due to its high prevalence in this sport due to the type of exercises performed.
What are the symptoms of lateral epicondylitis?
Pain in the lateral region of the elbow may be continuous or occur only with certain movements, and may reduce the ability to handle loads or perform certain precision functions. The pain may radiate down the lateral aspect of the forearm to the hand, due to the proximity of nerve structures that may be involved in the inflammatory process.
What are the treatments for lateral epicondylitis?
Conservative treatment is the first line of treatment for lateral epicondylitis of the elbow, and is successful in most cases. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication and other analgesics may be useful for pain control. Rehabilitation with stretching exercises and occupational reeducation are important to prevent relapses.
The use of orthoses, such as an elbow brace or wrist extension splint, can be useful to prevent or minimize symptoms during work or sports activities. Infiltrations with regenerative products obtained from the patient’s own blood, such as Platelet-Rich Plasma , are an effective alternative for more severe cases.
Surgical treatment is an option that should be considered when pain and disability persist, and can be performed using conventional open techniques or minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques.
For more information, see our Advanced Treatments .
