Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow is a common condition that causes pain and inflammation within the tendons that attach to the outside of the elbow. It is the result of repetitive motions of the arm, wrist and hand, which is why it happens to those who play racket-based sports like tennis. It can also happen to those with jobs that require repetitive motions, such as carpenters, plumbers and chefs.
Man holding his elbow with the joint highlighted in red to show pain
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Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

Pain when bending or lifting the arm
Pain or a “burning” sensation on the outside of the elbow
Difficulty straightening the arm
Pain that radiates between the arm and the wrist
A loss of grip or arm strength

Treating Tennis Elbow

There are several ways to treat tennis elbow, one of which is to discontinue the activity that is causing the pain. Additional treatments include:

  • Strengthening exercises
  • Anti-inflammatory medication
  • Resting and icing the elbow
  • Physical therapy
  • Corticosteroid injections
Person holding their elbow with the area highlighted in red to show pain
In severe cases, surgery may be recommended, such as open tendon repair, arthroscopic repair or tendon reconstruction.
While surgery to treat tennis elbow is generally effective, it requires extensive physical therapy. You will also need to refrain from sports and other elbow-intensive activities for 4-6 months. The surgery itself can cause damage to the surrounding muscles, cartilage and bone.
A newer and less invasive option, called transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE), is a safe and effective procedure to treat tennis elbow that doesn’t require surgery or limiting your activities.
Like with other musculoskeletal conditions, a hallmark of tennis elbow is the development of abnormal, fragile blood vessels within and surrounding the joint. These blood vessels are targeted with the TAE procedure to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
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International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS)

Answer each question about your urinary symptoms over the past month. Your total score is calculated instantly.

0 of 7 answered

1. Incomplete Emptying: How often have you had the sensation of not emptying your bladder?

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2. Frequency: How often have you had to urinate less than every two hours?

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3. Intermittency: How often have you found you stopped and started again several times when you urinated?

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4. Urgency: How often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?

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5. Weak Stream: How often have you had a weak urinary stream?

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6. Straining: How often have you had to strain to start urination?

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7. Nocturia: How many times did you typically get up at night to urinate?

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Please answer all questions to see your score.

Your I-PSS score

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This score is for informational purposes and is not a diagnosis. Share it with your provider to discuss what it means for you — or fill out the form on this page to talk with our team.

Talk to our team

WOMAC Osteoarthritis Index

Rate each activity by the degree of difficulty you have experienced in the last 48 hours due to your knee.

0 of 24 answered

Pain

1. Walking

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2. Stair climbing

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3. Nocturnal

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4. Rest

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5. Weight bearing

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Stiffness

1. Morning stiffness

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2. Stiffness occurring later in the day

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Physical Function

1. Descending stairs

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2. Ascending stairs

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3. Rise from sitting

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4. Standing

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5. Bending to floor

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6. Walking on flat surface

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7. Getting in/out of car

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8. Going shopping

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9. Putting on socks

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10. Lying in bed

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11. Taking off socks

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12. Rising from bed

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13. Getting in/out of bath

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14. Sitting

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15. Getting on/off toilet

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16. Heavy domestic duties

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17. Light domestic duties

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Please answer all questions to see your score.

Your WOMAC score

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This score is for informational purposes and is not a diagnosis. Share it with your provider to discuss what it means for you — or fill out the form on this page to talk with our team.

Talk to our team

Foot & Ankle Disability Index (FADI)

Rate each item by your current level of difficulty. Higher scores indicate better foot and ankle function.

0 of 26 answered

Activity

1. Standing

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2. Walking on even ground

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3. Walking on even ground without shoes

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4. Walking up hills

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5. Walking down hills

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6. Going up stairs

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7. Going down stairs

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8. Walking on uneven ground

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9. Stepping up and down curbs

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10. Squatting

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11. Sleeping

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12. Coming up to your toes

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13. Walking initially

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14. Walking 5 minutes or less

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15. Walking approximately 10 minutes

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16. Walking 15 minutes or greater

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17. Home responsibilities

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18. Activities of daily living

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19. Personal care

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20. Light to moderate work (standing, walking)

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21. Heavy work (push/pulling, climbing, carrying)

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22. Recreational activities

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Pain

23. General level of pain

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24. Pain at rest

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25. Pain during your normal activity

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26. Pain first thing in the morning

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Please answer all questions to see your score.

Your FADI score

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This score is for informational purposes and is not a diagnosis. Share it with your provider to discuss what it means for you — or fill out the form on this page to talk with our team.

Talk to our team

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