Tennis elbow: Definition, causes, epidemiology

Abstract

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse tendinopathy of the lateral wrist extensor muscles where they insert at the elbow. This condition occurs most commonly in adults between 30 and 50 years, with risk factors including repetitive use of the elbow, tobacco use, and other hand issues such as carpal tunnel syndrome and deQuervain’s tenosynovitis. The etiology is not clearly understood, but microvascular trauma, cutaneous nerve injury, and friction wear of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) have all been proposed.