Tennis elbow happens when you damage the tendons in your lower arm. These tendons attach your muscles to the bone of your elbow. When you move your wrist or hand, the tendons keep your muscles in place.

Tennis elbow often starts for no clear reason. Most people who get tennis elbow have not had a specific injury to their arm or elbow. But many people with tennis elbow often do work or a sporting activity where they move their arm in a repetitive way.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).
October 2007. Available at http://orthoinfo.aaos.org (accessed on 28 August 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

¹ This creates tiny tears in the tendon that then become

 

 

 

 

 

inflammation
If your skin or some other part of your body becomes red, swollen, hot or sore, we say it is inflamed. It means that your body is trying to protect you from germs, from something in your body tissues that can hurt you (like a thorn or sliver), or from things that cause allergies (allergens). Inflammation is part of the way the body heals an infection or injury.

 

 

 

 

 

inflamed.

Although playing tennis and other racquet sports such as badminton or squash can lead to tennis elbow, only 1 in 20 people get it this way.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Murtagh J.
Tennis elbow.
Australian Family Physician. 1988; 17: 90-91, 94-95.

 

 

 

 

 

² Many other things, such as raking leaves, wringing clothes or using scissors can cause tennis elbow.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Jobe FW, Ciccotti MG.
Lateral and medial epicondylitis of the elbow.
Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 1994; 2: 1-8.

 

 

 

 

 

³ Some jobs are associated with a higher risk of tennis elbow. These include meat cutting, plumbing, and painting. Research also shows a higher risk of tennis elbow among people whose jobs involve:

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
van Rijn RM, Huisstede BM, Koes BW, et al.
Associations between work-related factors and specific disorders at the elbow: a systematic literature review.
Rheumatology. 2009; 48: 528-536.

 

 

 

 

 

⁴

Tennis elbow mostly affects people between ages 30 and 50.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).
October 2007. Available at http://orthoinfo.aaos.org (accessed on 28 August 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

¹ But it can happen to anyone.

You usually get tennis elbow in the arm you use most (for example, in the right arm if you are right-handed). You're more likely to get tennis elbow if your forearm muscles aren't strong and you over-exert them.

Doctors sometimes call tennis elbow lateral epicondylitis.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.