Lateral Epicondylitis is commonly referred to as Tennis Elbow. Lateral epicondylitis is referring to the inflammation of the tendons that attach the wrist and hand extensor muscles to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus (AAOS, n.d). These muscles are the Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus (ECRL), Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB), Extensor Digitorum Communis (EDC).
The most commonly involved tendons involved are associated with the ECRB and the EDC, which cause pain during the following activities:
- Sleeping
- Movement of the elbow
- Gripping
- Opening doors
- Wrist and finger extension
- Radial deviation (rotating towards the thumb side)
- Lifting
- Rotating palm up (supination) (Cooper, 2014)
**It’s always encouraged to communicate with your doctor because these symptoms can also be related to cervical nerve impingement, Radial tunnel syndrome, and neurovascular entrapment.
Symptoms
- Shooting pain along lateral elbow and forearm
- Weakness during during activities
- Stiffness in elbow and wrist
- Sensitivity to light touch
- Burning sensation
- Dull/Ache
Treatments
Conservative treatment (also with corticosteroid injections)
- Moist heat and Ice
- Passive and Active Stretching
- Immobilization orthotics or a counterforce brace
- Activity modification and strengthening when appropriate
Reference
AAOS. (n.d.). Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) – OrthoInfo – AAOS. OrthoInfo. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases–conditions/tennis-elbow-lateral-epicondylitis/.
Cooper, C. (2014). Fundamentals of hand therapy: Clinical reasoning and treatment guidelines for common diagnoses of the upper extremity (2nd edition). Elsevier Mosby.