Print Overview Tennis elbow Enlarge image Close Tennis elbow Tennis elbow The pain of tennis elbow occurs mainly where the tough, cord-like tissues of forearm muscles, known as tendons, attach to a bony bump on the outside of the elbow. Tiny tears and longtime swelling, known as inflammation, can cause the tendon to break down. This causes the pain. Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis, is a condition that can result from overuse of the muscles and tendons in the elbow. Tennis elbow is often linked to repeated motions of the wrist and arm. Despite its name, most people who get tennis elbow don't play tennis. Some people have jobs that involve repeated movements that can lead to tennis elbow. These include plumbers, painters, carpenters and butchers. However, often tennis elbow has no clear cause. The pain of tennis elbow occurs mainly where the tough, cord-like tissues of the forearm muscles attach to a bony bump on the outside of the elbow. The tissues are known as tendons. Pain can spread into the forearm and wrist. Rest, pain medicines and physical therapy often help relieve tennis elbow. People for whom these treatments don't help or who have symptoms that get in the way of daily living might have a procedure, such as a shot or surgery.Products & ServicesA Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health BookA Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Home RemediesMayo Clinic Sports MedicineNewsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital EditionShow more products from Mayo Clinic SymptomsThe pain of tennis elbow can travel from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist. Pain and weakness can make it hard to: Shake hands or grip an object. Turn a doorknob. Hold a coffee cup. When to see a doctorTalk to a health care provider if self-care steps such as rest, ice and pain relievers don't ease your elbow pain and tenderness. Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry CausesTennis elbow is often linked to overuse and muscle strain. But the cause is not well understood. Sometimes, repeated tensing of the forearm muscles that are used to straighten and raise the hand and wrist triggers the symptoms. This can cause a breakdown of the fibers in the tendon that attaches the forearm muscles to the bony bump at the outside of the elbow. Activities that can cause tennis elbow symptoms include: Playing racket sports, especially using backhand, with poor form. Using plumbing tools. Painting. Driving screws. Cutting up foods for cooking, particularly meat. Using a computer mouse a lot. Less often, an injury or a condition that affects the body's connective tissues causes tennis elbow. Often, the cause isn't known. Risk factorsFactors that can increase the risk of tennis elbow include: Age. Tennis elbow affects people of all ages. But it's most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 60. Work. People who have jobs that involve repeating motions of the wrist and arm are more likely to develop tennis elbow. These include plumbers, painters, carpenters, butchers and cooks. Certain sports. Playing racket sports increases the risk of tennis elbow. Not having good form or using poor equipment increases the risk even more. Playing more than two hours a day also increases the risk. Other factors that can increase the risk include smoking, being obese and certain medicines. By Mayo Clinic Staff Tennis elbow care at Mayo Clinic Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment Sept. 07, 2023 Print Show references Miller M., et al. Elbow tendinopathies and bursitis. In: DeLee, Drez & Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: Principles and Practice. 5th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 7, 2023. AskMayoExpert. Lateral elbow tendinopathy (lateral epicondylitis). Mayo Clinic; 2022. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/tennis-elbow-lateral-epicondylitis. Accessed Feb. 7, 2023. Jayanthi N. Elbow tendinopathy (tennis and golf elbow). https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 7, 2023. Ferri FF. Epicondylitis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2023. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 7, 2023. The evolving use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in managing musculoskeletal and neurological diagnoses. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/news/the-evolving-use-of-extracorporeal-shock-wave-therapy-in-managing-musculoskeletal-and-neurological-diagnoses/mac-20527246. Accessed Feb. 8, 2023. Ami T. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. Feb. 1, 2023. Related Tennis elbow Associated Procedures Electromyography (EMG) MRI X-ray News from Mayo Clinic Overcoming elbow pain: Pickleball enthusiast shares journey with innovative TenJet procedure Jan. 07, 2024, 12:00 p.m. CDT Products & Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Home Remedies Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic Tennis elbowSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCare atMayoClinic Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. 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There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry