[Medical Q&A] How can you get "tennis elbow" if you don't play tennis?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Han Liqiang, deputy chief physician, Tianjin Third Central Hospital

Some patients visit the doctor because of right elbow pain. After examination, the orthopedic surgeon will tell them that they have "tennis elbow". The patient will be confused: I never play tennis, how can I have tennis elbow? In fact, tennis elbow is not limited to tennis players. Any activity that requires repeated use of forearm muscles may cause tennis elbow.

The medical name of "tennis elbow" is "lateral epicondylitis of the humerus". Its root cause is aseptic inflammation of the insertion point of the forearm extensor tendon at the lateral epicondyle of the humerus due to chronic strain, which causes pain. It can also be said to be a degenerative lesion of the tendon tissue. Because this disease is more common in tennis players, it is called "tennis elbow". In addition to tennis players, this disease is more common in badminton players, table tennis players, chefs, painters, carpenters, and housewives. It is related to the fact that these people need to repeatedly rotate their forearms and flex and extend their elbows in daily life and work. The main manifestation of tennis elbow is pain on the outside of the affected elbow. Many patients will experience elbow pain when doing actions such as clenching their fists, extending their wrists, lifting heavy objects, and twisting towels. Once the disease is diagnosed, treatment options such as immobilization of the affected limb, oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and local blockade can be used, which generally can achieve good results. For athletes, because the occupation itself has high functional requirements for the affected limb, surgical treatment (tendon insertion reconstruction) can be used to obtain better efficacy and limb function.