Tennis elbow: associated psychological factors

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Psychology
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) etiology is multifactorial, involving overuse, anatomical factors, and potentially psychological influences.
• Previous research suggests a link between overuse injuries and psychological factors, but specific profiles for tennis elbow patients remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the psychological profile differences between patients diagnosed with tennis elbow and healthy controls.
• To identify specific personality traits, psychological conditions, and work-related factors associated with tennis elbow.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 69 tennis elbow patients and 100 healthy controls recruited from Ghent University Hospital.
• Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing Big Five personality traits, perfectionism, anxiety, depression, work satisfaction, and working conditions.

Main Results:

• Tennis elbow patients demonstrated significantly lower scores in extraversion and agreeableness compared to controls.
• Male patients exhibited higher levels of perfectionism and a greater likelihood of anxiety or depression.
• Patients reported higher workloads (especially men) and lower autonomy (especially women), with female patients also reporting less social interaction at work.

Conclusions:

• A significant relationship exists between tennis elbow complaints and specific psychological characteristics.
• Psychological factors, including personality traits and work environment, may contribute to the development or exacerbation of tennis elbow.