Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a tendinopathy of the forearm extensor muscles at their myotendinous junction with the lateral epicondyle of the elbow. This condition is caused by excessive or repetitive use of these muscles or direct trauma to the region. The most common complaint is localized pain in the lateral epicondyle of the elbow, which worsens with palpation, wrist extension, and forearm pronation-supination. In more severe cases, the pain may radiate to the shoulder, wrist, or both. This injury is strongly associated with tennis due to the specific movements required in this sport (wrist extension with forearm pronation-supination) and other sports that use similar motion patterns, such as padel, squash, table tennis, badminton, among others. It is estimated that 50% of amateur tennis players suffer from this injury, but only 5% of professional players report symptoms leading to this diagnosis. It may also be linked to gripping too far down the handle, having a racket string that is too tight, or using heavier balls (for example, when they are wet). However, this is not an injury exclusive to athletes. Professions that require extensive hand and forearm use, such as computer work (especially typing or using a mouse), artists, musicians, electricians, carpenters, cooks, and plumbers, also have a high likelihood of developing this condition. It affects about 1-3% of the general population, being more common in individuals aged 35-54 and in the dominant hand. There are different treatment approaches for this condition, including anti-inflammatory medication and rest, corticosteroid injections, platelet-rich plasma or autologous blood injections, physiotherapy, and surgery. The success rates of these treatments regarding pain reduction and functional improvement have not been extensively studied. However, according to Landesa-Piñeiro & Leirós-Rodríguez (2022), physiotherapy, including manual therapy, stretching, and muscle-strengthening exercises, appears to offer the best cost-benefit ratio. Additionally, the use of orthoses (such as force-dispersing bands and kinesio taping) can complement the aforementioned techniques. Recovery time can range from three months to a year, depending on factors such as age, a body mass index over 25, previous similar complaints, and low psychosocial support. Thus, preventing this injury involves addressing various poor prognosis factors and implementing measures to reduce exposure to them. It is recommended to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, adjust training and playing equipment, and adapt the workplace to minimize the risk of developing this condition.