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This may account for why tennis elbow tends to occur more often than golfer ’ s elbow . Another reason might be that the size of the tennis elbow lateral epicondylar attachment is so much smaller than the golfer ’ s elbow medial epicondylar attachment , therefore , the force of the contraction of the tennis elbow musculature is more concentrated over a smaller surface area of bone ( Figure 7 ).
By no means does tennis elbow have to be caused by playing tennis , or golfer ’ s elbow have to be caused by playing golf . Indeed , any of the joint actions or joint stabilizations mentioned here could cause these conditions . Lifting a container of milk , or holding a steering wheel or pen for prolonged periods of time could result in golfer ’ s and / or tennis elbow . In fact , when we look at the long periods of time that we spend gripping and holding a smart , we can see that the predisposition to develop these conditions is tremendous . Also , repetitive flexion or extension motions of the hand at the wrist joint , such as working as a cashier at a checkout counter or performing manual labor such as carpentry could cause golfer ’ s or tennis elbow . Indeed , most every activity of daily life places physical stresses into the upper extremity that could contribute toward the incidence of these conditions . This is why golfer ’ s and tennis elbow are so prevalent in our world .
This article was first published in Massage and Body Magazine . It is reproduced with permission .
Dr . Joe Muscolino has been a manual and movement therapy educator for more than 30 years . He is the author of extensive online streaming video content on anatomy , physiology , and kinesiology , as well as assessment and treatment skillsets for manual therapists and movement professionals . He has created Learn Muscles Continuing Education ( LMCE ), with over 2,500 video lessons , with new video lessons added every week . He has also created Master Classes in Muscle Anatomy ( MAMC ), as well as the upcoming Bone and Joint Anatomy ( BAJAMC ), Kinesiology ( KMC ), and Visceral Anatomy ( VAMC ) Master Classes . He is the author of multiple textbooks , including The Muscular System Manual : The Skeletal Muscles of the Human Body ( Elsevier , 2017 ); The Muscle and Bone Palpation Manual with Trigger Points , Referral Patterns , and Stretching ( Elsevier , 2016 ); and Kinesiology : The Skeletal System and Muscle Function ( Elsevier , 2017 ). And he teaches continuing education workshops around the world , including a certification in Clinical Orthopedic Manual Therapy ( COMT ). Visit www . learnmuscles . com for more information or reach him directly at joseph . e . muscolino @ gmail . com .
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