Test for Tennis Elbow

The elbow is one of the most used joints of the human body. If it does not function properly, then a person's ability to complete tasks and care for themselves is restricted. One condition that can affect the elbow and result in such restrictions is lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow). A simple test can determine if tennis elbow is present and how severe it is.

How It Works

• The test for tennis elbow is done by a physician, usually during a visit to the physician's office, but it also can performed in other places due to its simplicity. The physician stabilizes the elbow first by placing it in their hand. The hand that stabilizes the elbow is positioned such that the doctor's thumb is placed on the lateral epicondyle (the outside protrusion on the bottom of the humerus bone). The doctor then asks the patient to make a fist with the hand of the arm that has the elbow supported. Next, the doctor has the patient move the hand while they apply slight resistance. If pain is felt in the area of the lateral epicondyle during this movement and resistance, then the tennis elbow test is considered positive.

When It's Done

• The tennis elbow test is done when it is suspected that overuse of the elbow joint is contributing to elbow pain. Sources of such overuse include athletics, as well as repetitive movements that might be encountered in the work or home setting.

Keys

• The doctor who performs the tennis elbow test looks for key symptoms in order to determine if the test is positive. Tenderness is the primary signal that there is a problem. The doctor also will look at how well the patient is able to rotate the wrist and elbow without pain; the degree of rotation gives the doctor an idea of where in the arm and how severe the problem really is. Lastly, the doctor will look for weakness, since pain in the elbow can affect how well a person is able to push against a resisting force and to grasp.

Differential Diagnoses

• Not all elbow pain is the result of tennis elbow. Pain in the elbow and arm also can be caused by problems elsewhere in the body, such as misalignment that causes compensation in one side of the body. The doctor who performs the tennis elbow test thus first should check the neck, shoulders, and back to rule out differential diagnoses.

Treatment

• If the tennis elbow test is positive, the doctor probably will prescribe rest of the joint. This allows inflammation to be reduced and prevents further injury to the elbow. If the tennis elbow does not get better through resting the elbow, surgery may be recommended. Heating pads and cold packs may provide temporary relief from tennis elbow pain until the problem can be cured.