You don’t have to play tennis to experience sharp pain on the outside of your elbow.

Tennis elbow is, in fact, an overuse injury, which causes tiny tears in the lateral tendon. If your job requires repetitive bending and straightening of your elbow or grasping and twisting, you are susceptible to tennis elbow.

The injury affects the tendon that runs from the bony tip of the elbow (epicondylitis) and connects the extensor muscles to the forearm. In the medical books, the condition is known as lateral epicondylitis.

Many people also experience golfer’s elbow, which causes pain on the inside of the elbow and forearm. Medial epicondylitis affects the tendon that runs from the knobby part of the elbow to the inside forearm muscles.

People who work and play with their hands are the most susceptible to tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow.

If you have a sharp pain near your elbow that seems to get worse with movement, contact the Bone & Joint Center and request an appointment or call them at 715.445.6442.