Article publié le 9 April 2025

FOCUS ON TMS #4 – EPICONDYLITIS / EPITROCHLEITIS

Having recently focused on the wrist, shoulder and elbow, what about the elbow? Moovency decided to take a look at elbow pathologies.

Among the most common musculoskeletal disorders, epicondylitis (or tennis elbow) and epitrochleitis (or golfer’s elbow) affect a large number of people, particularly those exposed to repetitive work or work that puts intense strain on the forearm muscles.

Let’s find out more about these conditions together: their causes, how symptoms develop, possible treatments… And above all, how to prevent them effectively!

Elbow tendonitis: definitions

By definition, tendonitis is inflammation of the tendon, generally caused by repetitive movements or excessive stress. As a hinge joint, the elbow is particularly exposed to this type of pathology.

The elbow is made up of 2 condyles, corresponding to the rounded articular end of a bone (fitting into the cavity of another bone), on the inner and outer edges of the elbow:

The medial condyle (epitrochlea): attachment zone for the wrist flexor muscles.
The external condyle (epicondyle): Attachment zone for the wrist extensor muscles.

Tendonitis of the elbow can therefore take two main forms:

Epitrochleitis : inflammation of the wrist flexor tendons at the epicondyle, more common in golfers (golf elbow) and certain workers exposed to intense gripping efforts.

Lateral epicondylitis: inflammation of the tendons connecting the wrist extensor muscles to the lateral epicondyle of the elbow. It mainly affects people who perform repetitive movements and is nicknamed ‘tennis elbow’ because it frequently affects tennis players.

Source : MSD Manual – Elbow Injuries by P.L. Liebert

Generally speaking, the elbow accounts for 22% of MSD cases, just after wrist-finger-hand injuries (38%) and the shoulder (30%). These two elbow pathologies are referenced in table 57 of the general scheme of periarticular affections caused by certain working gestures and postures.

💡It should be noted that there are other elbow disorders: fracture of the olecranon, hygroma of the elbow or inflammatory disease of the elbow.

Elbow tendonitis: causes and symptoms

EPICONDILYTE

Lateral epicondylitis usually occurs in only one arm (the dominant arm) and causes pain that radiates to the whole of the outside of the elbow and forearm.

This pain can occur when the person :

unfolds the arm ;
grasps objects with the hand while keeping the arm straight;
bending the wrist while keeping the arm straight;
performing a rotational movement, for example to open a door.

Work is the main risk factor for epicondylitis. The tasks that can cause the condition are as follows:

movements involving gripping a handle with force;
simultaneous rotation of the forearm and bending of the wrist;
movements of the hand to strike objects.

Certain factors aggravate tendon injuries: biomechanical factors (repetition of harmful movements), but also environmental factors (exposure to cold or vibrations).

EPITROCHLEITIS

In contrast, the pain of epitrochleitis is located on the inside of the elbow and forearm, and can sometimes extend as far as the shoulder. The symptoms are increased sensitivity to touch, stiffness in the elbow and reduced wrist mobility. It can be caused by a variety of movements:

Clenching the fist or grasping an object (gripping actions)
Bending the wrist against resistance;
Twisting the wrist.

And high-risk activities include :

Prolonged use of heavy tools;
Prolonged work on a computer;
Sports that put strain on the flexors (golf, shot-putting, climbing);

Elbow tendonitis: diagnosis and treatment

In both cases, diagnosis is based on a clinical examination. Depending on the severity, additional tests (X-rays, MRI) may be carried out to assess the extent of the damage.

There are various types of treatment:

First-line treatment: rest, application of ice, wearing a splint (elbow brace).
Medication: anti-inflammatories or painkillers may be prescribed to relieve pain, or corticosteroid injections.
Rehabilitation treatment: physiotherapy.
And as a last resort, surgical treatment.

Preventing elbow pathologies in the workplace

Preventing epicondylitis and epitrochleitis involves adopting good practice in the workplace. These include :

limiting exposure to aggravating factors (vibration, cold) and adapting tools.
redesigning the workstation: job analysis, risk mapping, etc.
introducing recovery breaks;
alternate tasks and warm up joints to better prepare yourself;
closer medical monitoring.

At Moovency, we support companies in preventing MSDs thanks to our KIMEA solutions and the expertise of our ergonomists. With our recording tools, you can easily assess the joints that are subject to the most strain, and then put preventive measures in place. So you can prevent risks and postures as early as possible and keep your employees in good health…

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