Tennis Elbow Pain: Inflammation, Degeneration or Tear of the Common Extensor Tendon.
Elbow Injury at the Lateral Epicondyle
Tennis Elbow (TE), also known as Elbow Tendonitis or Lateral Epicondylitis, is arguably the most common elbow injury of all the different types of elbow injuries. It is located on the outside of the lateral aspect of the elbow joint, which affects the Common Extensor Tendon of the Lateral Epicondyle.
Where and what is the Lateral Epicondyle and what is Epicondylitis?
The Lateral Epicondyle is located away from the centerline of the human body, at the outside aspect of the Humerus, the upper arm bone that extends from the shoulder to the elbow. A Condyle is an articular prominence of a bone. An Epicondyle is a projection on a bone above a condyle serving for the attachment of muscles, tendons and ligaments. The “itis” suffix denotes inflammation; therefore, Epicondylitis translates to inflammation of an epicondyle.
What is Tennis Elbow?
What Muscles and Tendons are affected by Lateral Epicondylitis?
Muscles connect to bones via Tendons. The Forearm Extensor Muscles attach to The Lateral Epicondyle via the Common Extensor Tendon. The Forearm Extensor Muscles directly related to Lateral Epicondylitis are elbow pain are:
Extensor Digitorum
Extensor Carpi Ulnaris
Extensor Carpi Radialis Longus
Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis
Initial symptoms of Lateral Epicondylitis could be more severe
Elbow Tendonitis inflammation of the Common Extensor Tendon with Elbow Tendonitis Symptoms of lateral elbow pain and tenderness upon gripping objects and outward wrist movement, is usually the initial onset of pain, although the acute stage of Lateral Epicondylitis as a severe condition has also been thought to be a Tenoperiosteal (Tendon to Bone) tear.
Progression from Lateral Epicondylitis
The progression to Tendinosis-chronic tendon collagen degeneration, in combination with or in addition to Enthesopathy–disorders of peripheral muscle attachments, has been acknowledged by the medical community as the later stages and more appropriate causes of Lateral Epicondylitis. Tendinosis at the head of the Common Extensor Tendon origin of the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis Muscle has been identified in surgical pathology as a common cause and location of pain.
A Repetitive Stress Injury that can heal slowly
Lateral Epicondylitis is known as a repetitive stress injury that commonly affects tennis players, or participants of other racquet sports. Lateral Epicondylitis Pain and tenderness, oftentimes radiating into the forearm especially in the morning, is usually felt with gripping movements, and outward wrist extension movements. Lateral Epicondylitis elbow injuries oftentimes heal very slowly and can take up to a year or longer to heal properly.
