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Tennis elbow

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Epitrochlear bursitis; Lateral epicondylitis; Epicondylitis - lateral

Symptoms:

• Elbow pain that gradually worsens
• Pain radiating from the outside of the elbow to the forearm and back of the hand when grasping or twisting
• Weak grasp

Signs and tests:

The diagnosis is made by clinical signs and symptoms, since x-rays are usually normal. Often there will be pain or tenderness when the tendon is gently pressed near where it attaches to the upper arm bone, over the outside of the elbow

There is also pain near the elbow when the wrist is extended (bent backwards, like revving a motorcycle engine) against resistance.

• Review Date: 9/26/2006
• Reviewed By: Andrew L. Chen, M.D., M.S., Orthopedist, The Alpine Clinic, Littleton, NH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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