Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis or enthesopathy of the extensor carpi radialis origin, is a collective term. It includes disorders that result from stresses on the arm with frequent repetitive activation of the wrist extensors. Here you can find additional information and selected specialists and centers for the treatment of tennis elbow.
Tennis elbow is an inflammatory reaction of the muscle at the elbow or forearm. The attachment of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle (forearm muscle) to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus (outer humeral joint bone of the upper arm) is affected.
With tennis elbow, pain occurs in the area of the outer side of the elbow, which can extend into the upper and lower arm.
The cause of tennis elbow is repeated injury or overuse.
The muscle area affected in tennis elbow © Andrea Danti | AdobeStock
The condition is one of the most common complaints in tennis. More men than women suffer from the disease, the peak age is between 35 and 55 years.
In tennis elbow, applying pressure to the lateral epicondyle of the humerus causes localized pain. The pain can be triggered especially when making a fist. Affected persons therefore have difficulty gripping firmly or are not able to at all.
Furthermore, pain is evident with wrist extension against resistance when the elbow is extended.
An X-ray or MRI exam is also recommended to rule out other diseases. Similar symptoms could also indicate
These must be ruled out by diagnosis.
Moreover, changes in the cervical spine with degeneration of the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae may also be present. The examining physician should also keep this in mind.
Tennis elbow therapies are divided into conservative and surgical treatment.
At the beginning of the disease, conservative therapy is preferred. The aim here is to reduce the inflammatory reaction at the tendon insertion of the affected muscle. For this purpose, the following procedures are recommended in combination with each other:
Surgical therapy is necessary if conservative therapy continues to cause discomfort.
The most common surgical method is the Hohmann technique. This involves making an incision in the tendon of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle with a Wilhelm denervation.
Follow-up care after surgical treatment includes regular wound checks and physiotherapy.
The rehabilitation phase after surgical treatment can last up to half a year.
Conservative treatment shows success rates in the 90 percent range and is therefore the therapy of choice. Consequently, surgical treatment is indicated only in rare cases.
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