The diagnosis for Tennis Elbow is based mostly on symptoms.
Whether your doctor says you have Lateral Epicondylitis, Elbow Tendonitis or the common term of Tennis Elbow, this diagnosis is nearly always based on the simple description of your Tennis Elbow symptoms.
It may include palpating (feeling) around your elbow and if there is an especially tender / painful spot right at or just below that knob of bone on the outside of your elbow (your Lateral Epicondyle) that’s considered a positive sign.
And there are two simple muscle resistance tests:
1 – Wrist Extension Test For Tennis Elbow
The most common test is to try to extend your wrist – or wrist and fingers – against resistance (take the wrist backward, as in the opposite of gripping) and if this is painful, particularly right at the outer elbow, it’s considered a positive sign of Tennis Elbow.
2- Wrist Supination Test For Tennis Elbow
This test is a twisting motion involving turning your hand palm up against resistance (from palm down to palm up) especially with your elbow straightened rather than bent – If that causes pain toward or at your outer elbow it’s also considered a positive sign of Tennis Elbow.
If one or both of these are painful it’s not conclusive, though! It could still be a sign of temporary muscle fatigue, over load and weakness.
But if it doesn’t get better or if you’ve already been having symptoms for several weeks or months, whether on and off or more or less continuously, than that tends to suggest Tennis Elbow.
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