Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow Overview

Tennis elbow is a condition caused by inflammation of the tendons on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow at a bony prominence (lateral epicondyle) of the upper arm. Certain repetitive movements of the wrist can cause this condition. It is not limited to tennis players.

Tennis Elbow Causes

• Any repetitive motion of the wrist, including tennis, hedge clipping, excessive use of a hammer or screwdriver, painting, or any activity that requires excessive constant gripping or squeezing can cause the condition known as tennis elbow.
• In the game of tennis, the following maneuvers can lead to tennis elbow:
• One-handed backhand with poor form
• A late forehand swing resulting in bending the wrist significantly
• Snapping and turning the wrist while serving with full power