Elbow in 6: Elbow bursitis

Repetitive gripping or overuse of forearm tendons Deformity or inability to move after trauma The elbow connects the upper arm to the forearm through a hinge joint that also permits the forearm to rotate, allowing the hand to be turned palm-up or palm-down. This combination of bending and rotating motion is unusual among joints and places particular demand on the tendons that cross it.

Most elbow pain in adults relates to overuse of the forearm muscles that attach near the joint rather than to the joint itself, with lateral epicondylitis, commonly called tennis elbow, being the most frequently diagnosed condition. These conditions are strongly associated with repetitive gripping, typing, or racquet-sport activity rather than any single acute injury.

Less commonly, the elbow is affected by ligament injury, nerve entrapment, or joint degeneration. This page reviews the elbow's anatomy, common conditions, assessment approaches, and general exercise and recovery patterns. Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is degenerative irritation of the tendons attaching to the outer bony bump of the elbow, most often related to repetitive wrist extension and gripping rather than tennis specifically.