Common Elbow Strains

Tendonitis

Elbow tendonitis is inflammation and swelling of the tendons around the elbow joint which causes pain, tenderness and in some cases causes restriction of movement in the elbow joint.

Elbow tendonitis is most often caused by overuse of the tendon by repetitive work and sports including tennis and golf. The most common forms of elbow tendonitis are Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow) and Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer's Elbow).

Lateral Epicondylitis

(Tennis Elbow)

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a form of tendinosis (chronic degeneration of the tendon).

It is an overuse injury that causes pain and tenderness on and around the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle (small bony part on the outside of your elbow).

These tendons are located in your forearm and help to extend your wrist and fingers. The wear and tear on these tendons is a result of small tears in your tissue that don't heal properly. The inability of your tendon to heal properly causes it to deteriorate until the tissues become very thin, and eventually wear out.

This condition will get worse over time if not dealt with properly. The main problem associated with tennis elbow is failed healing, not inflammation.

In 75% of cases, tennis elbow occurs in the dominant arm. It affects about an equal number of men and women, generally between the ages of 35-65 years old.

Tennis elbow is often confused with Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis) another overuse injury. However golfer's elbow causes pain and tenderness on the inside of the elbow (the medial epicondyle) instead of the outside of the elbow. Tennis elbow is sometimes misdiagnosed as bursitis or arthritis.

Alternate names and/or Related Conditions:

• Epitrochlear bursitis
• Acute elbow tendonitis
• Olecranon bursitis
• Wii elbow
• Plaster's elbow
• Mechanic's elbow
• Painter's elbow
• Elbow strain

Medial Epicondylitis

(Golfer's Elbow)

Golfer's elbow is a form of tendinosis(chronic degeneration of the tendon). It is an overuse injury that causes pain and tenderness on and around the tendons that attach to the medial epicondyle (small bony part on the inside of your elbow).

These muscles and tendons (brachialis, brachioradialis, pronator teres and flexor carpi radialis) are located in your forearm and help to flex and pronate your wrist and fingers.

Medial Epicondylitis is often misdiagnosed as Lateral Epicondylitis (tennis elbow) simply because the Lateral condition is much more frequent.

Medial Epicondylitis is most common in the 20-49 age group, but the condition is certainly not limited to this group. Moreover, anyone who is prone to repetitive stress injuries is at risk.

Cumulative stress, as with the majority of tendon issues, results in debilitating damage to the tendon and in Medial Epicondyle cases continual stress on the wrist extensors will prove detrimental to the healing of this area.

Alternate names and/or Related Conditions:

• Medial epicondylitis
• Forehand elbow
• Pitcher's elbow
• Bowler's elbow

Tendonosis

Tendonosis is a noninflammatory, degenerative condition of the collagen fibers in the tendon often caused by repetitive stress injury of the tendon fibers. As the collagen breaks down the typically straight and flexible fibers become a tangled mess with little pockets of jelly.

Tendonosis is caused by repetitive motion which causes an accumulation of microinjuries. The tendon tries to repair itself but eventually the breakdown of the collagen fibers exceeds the repair and the new collagen is produced with an abnormal structure and composition.

Unlike tendonitis, there are no inflammatory cells with a tendonosis injury making it hard to diagnose visually as there are no visible symptoms such as swelling, heat and redness. However, both injuries cause pain, tenderness and stiffness of the joints.

If not treated correctly the tendon will continue to degenerate causing further injury.

Tenosynovitis

Tenosynovitis is an inflammation of the lining of the sheath (called the synovium) surrounding the tendon. The symptoms of tenosynovitis are very similar to tendonitis and include pain, tenderness, swelling and stiffness of the affected area.

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