Which feature is most characteristic of tennis elbow?

Which feature is most characteristic of tennis elbow?

• A. Acute onset of pain on the outside of the elbow
• B. Gradual onset of pain on the outside of the elbow
• C. Pain radiating to the neck
• D. Pain localized to the inner elbow

Answer: (B)

Tennis elbow is a tendinopathy at the outer elbow where the forearm extensor muscles originate, typically caused by repetitive wrist extension and gripping. This overuse pattern leads to a gradual, insidious onset of pain on the outside of the elbow, which is often worsened by activities that extend the wrist or grip firmly. That gradual onset on the lateral elbow is the feature that best distinguishes tennis elbow from other elbow problems. Clinically, you’d also expect tenderness at the lateral epicondyle and pain with resisted wrist extension or middle finger extension. An abrupt onset of outer elbow pain would point toward a different mechanism (such as an acute injury), inner elbow pain suggests medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow), and pain radiating to the neck is not typical for this condition.

Tennis elbow is a tendinopathy at the outer elbow where the forearm extensor muscles originate, typically caused by repetitive wrist extension and gripping. This overuse pattern leads to a gradual, insidious onset of pain on the outside of the elbow, which is often worsened by activities that extend the wrist or grip firmly. That gradual onset on the lateral elbow is the feature that best distinguishes tennis elbow from other elbow problems.

Clinically, you’d also expect tenderness at the lateral epicondyle and pain with resisted wrist extension or middle finger extension. An abrupt onset of outer elbow pain would point toward a different mechanism (such as an acute injury), inner elbow pain suggests medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow), and pain radiating to the neck is not typical for this condition.