Lateral Epicondylitis Causes, Symptoms & Treatment Options

Lateral epicondylitis is characterized by elbow pain on the outer (lateral) side of the elbow caused by overuse of the forearm muscles involved in gripping activities, like holding a tennis racket. These muscles attach to a bony projection of the humerus (the long bone of the arm) called the lateral epicondyle. Lateral epicondylitis often occurs in tennis players. For this reason, this condition is commonly referred to as tennis elbow.

Lateral epicondylitis is typically caused by overuse from repetitive motions, such as swinging a tennis racket. Although this condition most often occurs in tennis players, it can also affect athletes of other sports. Improper mechanics in your sport can cause your tendons to wear out and be damaged more quickly, leading to lateral epicondylitis. This damage is a form of repetitive strain injury. Age can also contribute to the degeneration of the tendons. As we grow older, our tendons become weaker and more vulnerable to injury.  

Lateral Epicondylitis is common in these sports:

• Tennis
• Baseball (most common pitchers)
• Softball (most common pitchers)
• Golf

You may have lateral epicondylitis if you experience one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pain on the outside of the elbow
• Outer elbow pain extending from the elbow to the wrist
• Pain is usually associated with a gripping movement of the hand

At first, you may just experience elbow pain when playing sports. As the condition progresses, you may experience pain all the time.

While most of the time, the diagnosis can be made without any imaging studies, occasionally, your doctor may prescribe the following imaging tests to confirm the lateral epicondylitis diagnosis:

• X-rays
• MRI

Lateral epicondylitis is most often treated using non-operative elbow pain treatment options. Conservative treatments include:

• Resting the affected arm
• Icing the elbow throughout the day
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications to relieve tennis elbow pain and inflammation.
• Wearing a brace on the elbow or wrist while playing sports
• Corticosteroid injections (administered by an orthopedic specialist)
• Platelet-rich plasma injections (administered by an orthopedic specialist)
• Physical therapy with a licensed professional to stretch and strengthen the arm

Try these lateral epicondylitis exercises to help address your condition:

Below is a PDF of the Lateral Epicondylitis Exercises Program

Elbow Epicondylitis

If your symptoms do not resolve with non-operative treatments, your doctor may suggest surgery. During surgery to treat lateral epicondylitis, your doctor will  make a small incision over the outside of your elbow, remove the damaged tissue, and reattach the healthy portion of the tendon to the bone.

You can return to play when you have recovered full range of motion and strength in the arm and have no more pain. If non-operative treatments are successful, recovery can take four to six weeks. If you require surgery, you may need at least three to four months to fully recover.

Ask your physical therapist if there are changes you can make to your throwing or swinging techniques that may help you prevent tennis elbow from recurring in the future. Correcting improper techniques or mechanics can help you avoid further arm damage and reduce the risk of repetitive strain injury.