Lateral epicondylitis, more commonly known as tennis elbow, is a condition that is caused by overuse or chronic degeneration of the tendons. Although playing tennis or racquetball can lead to tennis elbow, if often occurs with other sports or due to chronic degeneration.
Tendons are fibrous tissue bands that connect muscles and bones. Performing repetitive motions with your arms or hands, such as playing sports, can lead to lateral epicondylitis. This happens due to degeneration in the tendons.
Symptoms, Diagnosis and Outlook
Symptoms of tennis elbow include:
Pain on the side of the elbow
Problems holding, turning or gripping objects
Weakness in the arm or hand
Your doctor will start the diagnosis process by taking your medical history and doing a physical exam. You may also obtain X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans.
Treatment for tennis elbow may include:
Rest
Physical therapy
Ice for the elbow
Braces
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Topical medications
Injections
Ultrasonic tenotomy (TENEX procedure)
Surgery
Lateral epicondylitis may resolve on its own with minimal treatments such as ice, rest and physical therapy stretches and exercises. If the pain continues and affects your activities, you should seek evaluation for other treatment options.
Orthopaedics is proud to be a leader in the care of patients with disorders of the bones, joints and spine. Our faculty, clinicians, and researchers have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report, ranking as one of the best hospitals in the nation for in orthopaedic care.
Why Choose Penn State Health for Care
Top-Ranked by U.S. News & World Report
Penn State Health includes the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, ranked as one of the best orthopaedic providers in the country by U.S. News & World Report. This honor was earned because our doctors consistently deliver exceptional patient care and outcomes through their commitment to advanced treatments, translational research and provider training.
Coordinated, Specialized Care Through a Dedicated Institute
Penn State Health orthopaedic specialists work together through our dedicated Penn State Bone and Joint Institute. We focus on providing you with tailored care and state-of-the-art treatments to produce the highest-quality patient outcomes. All physicians at the institute are fellowship-trained and subspecialize in additional areas of orthopaedics and sports medicine.
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Penn State Bone and Joint Institute is a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement. This superior designation from BlueCross BlueShield is only given to health care facilities and providers that stand out for their expertise in delivering specialty knee and hip replacement care. Our surgeons specialize in a range of pain-relieving procedures, including partial knee replacement, total joint arthroplasty, joint preservation surgery and complex revision surgery. They perform more than 1,000 joint replacement procedures every year.
Advancing Orthopaedic Medicine Through Research
The doctors and researchers in the Center for Orthopaedic Research and Translational Science at Hershey Medical Center are committed to advancing their field through scientific discovery and education. As the only locally based academic medical center in central Pennsylvania, Hershey Medical Center is a national leader in research and on the leading edge of new treatment options, including clinical trials, in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine.
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