Pathology - Tennis Elbow

Pathology

Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow is a common condition of the elbow where it becomes tender and sore on the outer aspect of it. It can happen to anybody but is basically associated with tennis players.

This sports condition is also known as lateral epicondylitis

Etiology: This is what know as the cause if the disease.The most common cause of tennis elbow (lateral elbow pain) is the repetitive nature that comes with the sport of tennis; ie constantly hitting the ball with force which can therefore lead to tears in the tendons, ligaments and muscles surrounding the elbow joint, but mainly the tendon which attaches to the forearm. Basically you can call tennis elbow a case of overuse syndrome. The main age group of people who suffer from Tennis Elbow are those between their 30's and 60's. Age does have a inputting factor although gender does not.

Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_elbow (31/3/09)


Pathogenesis:This step by step development of the disease and chain of events leading up to it. It is developed over a long period of time and is known to be the tears in the tendons that cause the pain. Pain is also felt in the wrist from gripping to tightly or not properly. The extensor carpis radialis brevis has been implicated in this case as the fore arm flexors and extensors jerk in movement to cause undesireable force/use on the tendon.

Morphology: the fundamental structure or form of tissues and cells. anatomical changes that occur during the disease/condition.

This would be the tears in the tendons that was stated on wikipedia which I referenced before. Also, weakness in the surrounding muscles may be present from having to over compensate.

Histological: the changes to the ground substance and intracellular fluid etc.

Histological analysis shows that the hyalin is degenerated and fibrosis is present.

retrieved from http://lib.bioinfo.pl/meid:240291 (31/3/09)

Epidemiology: study of the factors contributing to the disease or injury . number of cases over time. incidence;number of new cases and prevalence; number of people who have it

Incidence and Prevalance;

Lateral elbow pain(tennis elbow/lateral epicondylitis) is common (population prevalence 1–3%),with peak incidence occurring between the age of 40–50. In women aged 42–46 , incidence increases to 10%.In the UK, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia the incidence of lateral elbow pain in general practice is 4–7/1000 people a year.

Retrieved From http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/ceweb/conditions/msd/1117 /1117_background.jsp (31/3/09)