Tennis elbow is caused by inflammation of the common extensor origin, at the lateral epicondyle of the humerus. There may also be concommittant rupture of aponeuritic fibres. It is a frequent cause of elbow pain.

Tennis is one cause of tennis elbow, others include:

• minor trauma to the origin of the wrist extensors
• a vascular repair phenomenon
• an entrapment syndrome

Tennis elbow is a common problem in primary care with an incidence of between four and seven per 1,000 people per year.