Although no definite cause has been underlined, experts believe the most likely causes of Tennis elbow include:
- Small tears developing in tendons
- Scar-like tissue under the tendon
- Overload injury of forearm extensor muscles
- Irritation and inflammation of nerves that pass near the elbow
Tennis elbow can be triggered by some activities or movements involving the upper arm, elbow and forearm. For example, gripping, lifting or throwing, using plumbing or gardening tools, cutting and many such repeated jerky movements of elbow result in overuse of muscles, tendons and ligaments contribute as causes of Tennis elbow.
Strong forces and sudden impacts can cause wear and tear of the fibers which result in strain. These strained tendons become thick, bumpy and irregular which cause pain.
Most people who get tennis elbow are between the ages of 30 and 50 years
Activities that may figure as causes of Tennis elbow are:
- Construction and mechanical work.
- Tasks that involve twisting motions, gripping a power tool that shakes or vibrates powerfully, or sudden impacts such as hammering.
- Typing, operating computer, playing video game
- Repeated contraction of muscles in forearm that are used to raise the hand and wrist in painters, plumbers, and carpenters.
- Even cooks and butchers get Tennis elbow more often than the rest of the population.
