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Abstract
Lateral elbow pain
published in July - August 2017 - in Il Fisioterapista - issue n.4
Mauro Branchini, Mirco Branchini

Lateral epicondyle pain is characterized by a specific clinical picture, pain on palpation of the epicondylar region extending from the outer border of the head of the radius up to the region above the humeral epicondyle. In the case of acute phase disease, the resisted wrist extension test or the resisted extension of the digits of the hand causes epicondylar pain. The painful symptom does not correspond to a tendinitis or an inflammatory picture but to a degenerative process of the tendons involved, with disorganization of the collagen fibres, increase of the fibroblasts, neovascularization, and presence of necrotic fibres. Lateral epicondyle pain, improperly epicondylitis, commonly referred to as “tennis elbow”, is not really intended to be a disease affecting only this small group of athletes, but also affects those who, for work, perform repeated movements of pronation and supination of the forearm or who for a long time stays with the upper limbs in the same position, with wrist and fingers extended, like a pianist, typist or writer who uses the computer keyboard.