What condition is often referred to as "tennis elbow"?

Tennis elbow, clinically known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that arises from the overuse of the forearm muscles and tendons, leading to pain and inflammation at the elbow. It is characterized by tenderness on the outer part of the elbow, where the tendons of the forearm muscles attach to the lateral epicondyle.

This condition commonly occurs in sports that involve repetitive gripping activities, such as tennis, hence the name "tennis elbow.” The repetitive motions can cause small tears in the tendons, resulting in pain that can radiate down the forearm.

Lateral epicondylitis is distinct from medial epicondylitis (often referred to as golfer's elbow), which affects the inside of the elbow, as well as from Panner’s disease, a condition that affects the growth of bone in young athletes, and an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury, which involves damage to the ligament that stabilizes the inner elbow joint. Recognizing and differentiating these conditions is essential for effective diagnosis and treatment in athletic training and rehabilitation contexts.