The Causes of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow usually develops over time. Repetitive motions — like gripping a racket during a swing — can strain the muscles and put too much stress on the tendons. That constant tugging can eventually cause microscopic tears in the tissue.
Tennis elbow might result from:
- Tennis
- Racquetball
- Squash
- Fencing
- Weightlifting
It can also affect people with jobs or hobbies that require repetitive arm movements or gripping such as:
- Carpentry
- Typing
- Painting
- Raking
- Knitting
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
The symptoms of tennis elbow include pain and tenderness in the bony knob on the outside of your elbow. This knob is where the injured tendons connect to the bone. The pain may also radiate into the upper or lower arm. Although the damage is in the elbow, you’re likely to hurt when doing things with your hands.
Tennis elbow may cause the most pain when you:
- Lift something
- Make a fist or grip an object, such as a tennis racket
- Open a door or shake hands
- Raise your hand or straighten your wrist
Tennis elbow is similar to another condition called golfer’s elbow, which affects the tendons on the inside of the elbow.