What is the difference between lateral and medial epicondylitis?

Asked by: Jennifer Sather

Medial epicondylitis—golfer’s elbow—similar to lateral epicondylitis but affects the inner side of your elbow and forearm (“lateral” means toward the outside of your body, so the outside of your elbow is the lateral side, while “medial” means toward the middle. The inner side of your elbow is the medial side.)

How can you distinguish between medial and lateral epicondylitis?

Medial epicondylitis produces pain in the inner part of the elbow, while lateral epicondylitis produces pain in the outer elbow. The pain usually gets worse during activity that stresses the elbow tendons, leading to soreness and tenderness at either the inner or outer elbow.

What are the two types of epicondylitis?

Both tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, and golfer’s elbow, or medial epicondylitis, are injuries to the tendons attaching your forearm muscles to the bone at your elbow. The “epicondyle” part of epicondylitis refers to the bony bumps or protrusions at your elbow.

Which is more common lateral or medial epicondylitis?

Clinical experience suggests that medial epicondylitis is far less common than lateral epicondylitis. Moreover, the medial side of the elbow has other structures that may be the source of pain, e.g. the medial collateral ligament and the ulnar nerve.

Can you have medial and lateral epicondylitis at the same time?

Most people who get golfer’s elbow are in their 30s-60s and it is usually their dominant arm. Medial epicondylitis occurs less often than lateral epicondylitis, however, a person can have both lateral and medial epicondylitis at the same time.

What is the best treatment for lateral epicondylitis?

Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, ultrasonography, and iontophoresis with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs appear to provide short-term benefits. Use of an inelastic, nonarticular, proximal forearm strap (tennis elbow brace) may improve function during daily activities.

Why can tennis elbow mean medial or lateral epicondylitis?

Lateral epicondylitis, or “tennis elbow,” is an inflammation of the tendons that join the forearm muscles on the outside of the elbow. Medial epicondylitis, or “golfer’s elbow,” is an inflammation of the tendons that attach your forearm muscles to the inside of the bone at your elbow.

What is the medial epicondyle of the elbow?

A bony bump, called the medial epicondyle, is located along the inside of the elbow. Pain occurs on or near this bump, where the tendons of your forearm muscles connect to the bone. Repetitive forces can cause the tendon to become tender and irritated.

Why is the medial epicondyle larger than the lateral epicondyle?

The medial epicondyle of the humerus is an epicondyle of the humerus bone of the upper arm in humans. It is larger and more prominent than the lateral epicondyle and is directed slightly more posteriorly in the anatomical position.

Where is lateral epicondyle located?

elbow

There are bony bumps at the bottom of the humerus called epicondyles, where several muscles of the forearm begin their course. The bony bump on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow is called the lateral epicondyle. The ECRB muscle and tendon is usually involved in tennis elbow.

Is there numbness and tingling with lateral epicondylitis?

There typically is no pain over the back or inside of the elbow. The pain is worst with gripping, grasping and wringing activities and can be provoked by typing or using a computer mouse with the wrist extended. There is not usually any numbness or tingling associated with it. Q: How is the diagnosis made?

How do you stretch medial epicondylitis?

Wrist Extensor Stretch Hold the arm with the elbow straight and the palm facing down. Push downward on the back of the involved hand until a stretch is felt in the muscles on the outside of the forearm. Hold 15 seconds, repeat 3 to 5 times, 2 to 3 times per day.

Can you have both golfers elbow and tennis elbow?

You can experience both tennis and golfer’s elbow at the same time. Certain activities involve heavy use of both the lateral and medial sides of the forearm. This is common among tennis players, golfers and rock climbers, as well as construction workers and plumbers.

What is the difference between epicondylitis and Epicondylosis?

Epicondylitis is also commonly known as Tennis Elbow which refers to pain on the outside (lateral side) of the elbow. Epicondylosis is commonly known as Golfer’s Elbow which refers to pain on the inside (medial side) of the elbow. Interestingly enough, the conditions are not always present in these sports.

What is the difference between tendonitis and epicondylitis?

Tennis Elbow pain can be caused by several different things.

Elbow Tendonitis (or ‘Tendinitis’ – just a different spelling) and Lateral Epicondylitis both refer to chronic inflammatory conditions. (They are very similar: Epicondylitis is a form of Tendonitis.)

What is medial epicondylitis of the elbow?

Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylitis, is caused by damage to the muscles and tendons that control your wrist and fingers. The damage is typically related to excess or repeated stress — especially forceful wrist and finger motions.

Is lateral epicondylitis the same as tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a painful condition that occurs when tendons in your elbow are overloaded, usually by repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Despite its name, athletes aren’t the only people who develop tennis elbow.

What are 3 causes of lateral epicondylitis?

What causes tennis elbow?

• Improper backhand stroke.
• Weak shoulder and wrist muscles.
• Using a tennis racket that is too tightly strung or too short.
• Other racquet sports, like racquetball or squash.
• Hitting the ball off center on the racket, or hitting heavy, wet balls.

How do you stretch medial epicondylitis?

Wrist Extensor Stretch Hold the arm with the elbow straight and the palm facing down. Push downward on the back of the involved hand until a stretch is felt in the muscles on the outside of the forearm. Hold 15 seconds, repeat 3 to 5 times, 2 to 3 times per day.

How does the elbow develop medial and lateral epicondylitis?

Lateral epicondylitis, termed as tennis elbow, commonly occur after repeated activities of supination/pronation of the forearm while the elbow in extension, whereas medial epicondylitis, termed as golfer’s elbow , mostly occur in athletes, tennis players, and workers whose jobs (e.g., carpentry) require similar …

How long does it take for medial epicondylitis to heal?

Rehabilitation. In cases where the tendon is inflamed, conservative treatment is usually only needed for three to four weeks. When symptoms are from tendinosis, healing can take longer, usually up to three months. If the tendinosis is chronic and severe, complete healing can take up to six months.

What muscles are involved in medial epicondylitis?

The muscles involved in medial epicondylitis primarily include the pronator teres and the FCR. Less likely to be involved are the palmaris longus, the FDS, and the FCU. The anterior medial epicondyle is the primary area of involvement with this condition.

What movements should I avoid with tennis elbow?

Chin-ups, pushups and bench presses: All of these movements put a strain on your elbow’s flexors, which can lead to further irritation of the lateral tendons of your elbow. Wrist exercises: It’s best to avoid any wrist exercises, especially forearm dumbbell curls or barbell extensions.

Should I wear my tennis elbow brace all the time?

Yes, it’s true that most of the “authorities,” such as Doctors, consumer medical websites and Physical Therapists do recommend that you wear some kind of support pretty much all the time for a few weeks to help “rest, protect and heal” your Tennis Elbow.

Should I wear tennis elbow brace overnight?

It should be worn at night and during the day when the pain is more bothersome. The second brace is a tennis-elbow strap (also known as a counterforce brace). This is recommended anytime you are lifting or performing activities such as working out, yardwork or grocery shopping.

Should I lift weights with tennis elbow?

If your injury is from golf, tennis or some other shorter-duration, medium-intensity sport or activity, then it may be quite beneficial to continue your gym workouts – although reducing the frequency you play tennis or golf would be wise.

Will tennis elbow ever heal?

Tennis elbow will get better without treatment (known as a self-limiting condition). Tennis elbow usually lasts between 6 months and 2 years, with most people (90%) making a full recovery within a year. The most important thing to do is to rest your injured arm and stop doing the activity that caused the problem.

Why is my tennis elbow not healing?

In most cases, true tennis elbow which does not heal after 6 to 8 weeks is due to a non-inflammatory issue. 80% of these cases do not recover, as the tendon matrix compromised by inappropriate loading; such as the overuse of the tendon. This may lead to early wear and tear of the tendon matrix.

What is best exercise for tennis elbow?

What exercises should I do if I have tennis elbow?

• FINGER STRETCH WITH RUBBER BAND. Place a rubber band around your thumb and fingers, and slightly cup your hand. …
• GRIP. …
• DOWNWARD WRIST STRETCH. …
• WRIST CURL (PALM UP, PALM DOWN) …
• ELBOW CURLS (PALM UP, PALM DOWN) …
• FOREARM PULL (OPTIONAL) …
• FOREARM TWIST (OPTIONAL)

Does squeezing a ball help tennis elbow?

There are many treatment options for tennis elbow, but the best place to start is with strengthening and stretching exercises. The following exercises focus on slow, deliberate motions. Squeezing a stress ball can improve grip strength. Eventually, you can graduate to using a hand grip strengthener.

What does a cortisone shot do for tennis elbow?

Cortisone works by reducing inflammation and calming the nerves in the injured area. However, although cortisone provides effective short-term pain relief, it can’t heal the underlying tendon damage. Pain relief can be a helpful step on the road to healing and recovery. But that relief is temporary.