Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a painful ailment caused by excessive elbow use. Tennis elbow is so named because it is so common in tennis players. However, it is also prevalent in several sports and specific occupational categories. Particularly in faucet repairmen and housewives who perform strenuous tasks, it is regarded as an occupational disease.
Tennis elbow is a disease that causes inflammation at the site where the forearm muscles' tendons join to the bone at the outside edge of the elbow. Overuse - repeated repetitive actions - damages the forearm muscles' attachment point to the elbow. As a result, pain and soreness on the outside of the elbow occur.
There are many different treatment methods for tennis elbow. In many cases, treatment is a team effort. The orthopedic physician and physiotherapist often work collectively.
Anatomy
The elbow consists of three bones, the forearm bones (radius and ulna) and the humerus (humerus). There are two protrusions of the humerus at the elbow, one on the inside and one on the outside. These protrusions are called epicondyles. The inner epicondyle is called medial epicondyle and the outer epicondyle is called lateral epicondyle. Inflammation of the epicondyles is called epicondylitis.
The medial epicondyle is adhered to by the anterior facial group muscles of the forearm, while the lateral epicondyle is adhered to by the posterior group muscles of the forearm.