Summary

• Typically occurs during the 4th and 5th decades of life. Patients describe a history of activities contributing to overuse of the forearm muscles that originate at the elbow.
• Patients with epicondylitis report pain during or after elbow flexion and extension.
• People with lateral epicondylitis are tender approximately 2 cm distal and anterior to the lateral epicondyle. They report pain during resisted wrist and digit extension, and during passive wrist flexion with the elbow extended.
• People with medial epicondylitis have tenderness along the medial elbow, approximately 5 mm distal and anterior to the medial epicondyle. Pain is exacerbated with resisted forearm pronation and resisted wrist flexion.
• Most patients will have complete resolution of symptoms with arm rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy. Patients with continued symptoms may require further treatment, including physiotherapy, injection therapy, or surgical debridement.
• The principal complication is continued pain. All other complications may arise from interventions attempting to alleviate the pain.