Tennis players are most commonly affected by which tendinopathy?

• A. Lateral Epicondylitis
• B. Medial Epicondylitis
• C. Subacromial Bursitis
• D. Infrapatellar Bursitis

Answer: (A)

Overuse of the wrist extensors during tennis strokes repeatedly stresses the tendon where the wrist extensor muscles attach at the lateral epicondyle, leading to degeneration and microtears at that origin. This painful tendinopathy is classic for lateral epicondylitis, commonly called tennis elbow, and is the condition most often seen in tennis players. Symptoms typically include lateral elbow tenderness and pain with gripping or with resisted wrist extension.

Medial epicondylitis involves the inner elbow from repetitive flexion and forearm pronation and is less specifically tied to tennis; subacromial bursitis is a shoulder problem, and infrapatellar bursitis affects the knee.