Tennis Elbow Causes & Risks

Causes

Tennis elbow is caused by overusing the forearm extensor muscles. These muscles extend the wrist and are active when you grip something, such as a tennis racquet. Overusing these muscles can cause deterioration or tearing of the tendons attached to the lateral epicondyle.

Causes include:

• Improper technique for hitting a tennis ball
• Improper size of tennis racquet or tension of racquet strings
• Doing certain arm motions too much, such as:
  • Tennis strokes
  • Golf swings
  • Painting
  • Raking
  • Pitching
  • Rowing
  • Using a hammer or screwdriver
• Improper golf swing technique or grip of golf clubs
• Wrong model of golf clubs

Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that increases your chance of getting a disease, condition, or injury. Risk factors include:

• Playing tennis or golf
• Work that requires repetitive wrist extension and gripping with a closed fist
• Muscle imbalance
• Decreased flexibility
• Advancing age