[The current state of knowledge about pathomechanism of tennis elbow]

The term tennis elbow applies to the state in which the patient feels pain in the area of lateral epicondyle and concomitantly suffers from strength disorders together with diminished capability of the upper limb. Even a very brief look at the specialist literature reveals that there is a number of terms for this particular pain unit. Throughout many years this pain was linked with the inflammation of the common extensors tendon. Presently there is a widespread agreement that this painful condition is connected with the degeneration in the area of common extensors tendon, in particular the extensor carpi radialis brevis. A closer consideration of the pathomechanism of the tennis elbow points to the fact that this seemingly simple pain unity is a complex problem. Moreover, it shows how important the nuances in patients opinion are and how such details can influence not only the diagnose but also the treatment.