Epicondylitis (also epikondylopathy, epikodylose or epicondyalgia) is an acquired, painful irritation of the tendon attachments of muscles of the forearm, which arise at the two bony prominences above the synovial bone (epicondyle) at the distal part of the humerus. The disease is assigned to the group of enthesopathies (tendon disease, tendinitis = insertion tendinosis, insertion endopathy). There are two forms:
- Epicondylitis radialis humeri (also tennis elbow, tennis elbow or Epicondylitis humeri lateralis): at the outer Epikondylus of the upper arm bone (strechor of the wrist and the fingers).
- Epicondylitis ulnaris humeri (also golfer's elbow, golfer's arm or epicondylitis humeri medialis): on the inner epicondyle of the humerus (flexor of the wrist and fingers).
An epicondylitis is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles, that is by extreme or constantly recurring movements or congestion situation of the affected muscle. Possible triggers are:
- Unilateral stress (eg for keyboard / mouse use, see also: Repetitive Strain Injury Syndrome, Sport Climbing)
- Wrong posture (at work, at home and garden or at leisure)
- Bad technique in racquet sports (tennis, badminton, golf - the scope of grip probably does not matter)
- Wrong sleeping posture in side position: Use of the strongly bent arm as headrest.
- Diseases such as fibromyalgia
Definition: What does that mean and what happens in the body?
From a medical point of view, one speaks of a tennis elbow when there is a painful irritation of the tendon insertion of the forearm extensor muscles.
Symptoms: Where are the symptoms noticeable?
Characteristic is a strong pressure pain on the outer elbow and a release of the pain with muscular strain of the affected muscle group.
From a medical point of view, one speaks of a tennis elbow when there is a painful irritation of the tendon insertion of the forearm extensor muscles.
Symptoms: Where are the symptoms noticeable?
Characteristic is a strong pressure pain on the outer elbow and a release of the pain with muscular strain of the affected muscle group.
Risk groups: who is at risk?
The cause of the tennis elbow is usually an overuse of the forearm muscles in the form of permanently performed, frequently repeated or held movements of the arm. It comes to an overload situation of the muscles.
The cause of the tennis elbow is usually an overuse of the forearm muscles in the form of permanently performed, frequently repeated or held movements of the arm. It comes to an overload situation of the muscles.
Causes:
- Monotonous desk work with one-sided mechanical stress
- Weakness of the forearm muscles
- Poor posture with a lack of stability in the shoulder girdle
- Wrong movement patterns during sports - especially in punch sports such as tennis
Other causes that are often neglected may include changes in the neck area: stiffness around the cervical spine, blockages, arthritis of the small vertebral joints, changes in the intervertebral disc. For this a structured survey is very important.
Pyhsiotherapie osteopathy
- Stretching the shortened forearm muscles
- Transverse frictions in the attachment area of the musculature
- Targeted strengthening of the opponents of the affected muscle groups
- Mobilization of the surrounding nerve structures
- Supportive: electrotherapy and ultrasound
