Tennis Elbow - Lateral Epicondylitis

which connect the muscles of the forearm to the external part of the elbow (lateral epicondyle). This condition is also known as tennis elbow, considering that tennis is the sporting activity that exposes the musculoskeletal structures affected by the disorder to the greatest tension.

Lateral epicondylitis is often caused by functional overload, ie by excessive and continued use of the elbow, and is typical of subjects who, due to particular sports or professional activities, are forced to repeat certain movements.
In particular, tennis elbow is an insertional tendinopathy: the inflammatory process involves the insertion of the extensor epicondyle muscles of the forearm, which originate from the lateral epicondyle of the elbow (located near the bony protrusion in the lower external extremity of the humerus ). The tennis elbow is therefore caused by an "inflammation of the muscles and tendons that are inserted in the lateral epicondyle and which are responsible for the extension of the wrist or fingers of the hand.
In principle, the pain associated with lateral epicondylitis affects only the tendons, especially when making wrist extension movements against resistance, and tends to increase with activities that require the involvement of the muscles in the affected limb. With prolonged abuse, the painful manifestation can radiate along the forearm and persist even at rest, resulting in a progressive reduction in the functionality of the hand, wrist and elbow.

of the elbow. Lateral epicondylitis is caused by inflammation often caused by functional overload, which occurs mainly when the muscles and tendons of the elbow are forced to overexertion. Furthermore, repeated microtrauma or direct damage to the lateral epicondyle, such as "excessive extension" of the forearm or incorrect movement, has been shown to cause more than half of these injuries.