What is the Difference Between Medial and Lateral Epicondylitis

The key difference between medial and lateral epicondylitis is that medial epicondylitis is a type of epicondylitis that produces pain in the inner part of the elbow, whereas lateral epicondylitis is a type of epicondylitis that produces pain in the outer part of the elbow.

Epicondylitis is a condition that causes inflammation of the tendons. Tendons are cords of tissue that attach the forearm muscles to the elbow. This inflammation leads to tenderness in the tendon and elbow pain. It commonly occurs in sports like tennis and golf and work-related activities that involve repetitive and forceful gripping and lifting. Epicondylitis is mainly of two types: medial and lateral epicondylitis.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Medial Epicondylitis
3. What is Lateral Epicondylitis
4. Similarities – Medial and Lateral Epicondylitis
5. Medial vs Lateral Epicondylitis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Medial vs Lateral Epicondylitis

What is Medial Epicondylitis?

Medial epicondylitis, also called golfers’ elbow, is a type of epicondylitis causing pain in the inner elbow. It happens when the muscles and tendons that control the wrist and fingers are damaged. This damage is usually due to excess or repeated stress through forceful wrist and finger motions, throwing or hitting, improper lifting, too little warm-ups, or poor conditioning. Racket sports, throwing sports, weight training, forceful and repetitive occupational movements are common triggers of medial epicondylitis. Symptoms of medial epicondylitis are pain and tenderness, usually on the inner side of the elbow, stiff elbow, weakness in the hands and wrists, and numbness or tingling in one or more fingers. The risk factors for medial epicondylitis are being 40 or older, doing repetitive activity, obesity, and smoking.

Medial epicondylitis can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, MRI, and X-ray. Furthermore, treatment options for medial epicondylitis include over-the-counter pain reliever medications (ibuprofen, naproxen, or acetaminophen), resting, icing the affected area, using a brace, stretching and strengthening the affected area, and surgery (TENEX procedure).

What is Lateral Epicondylitis?

Lateral epicondylitis, also called tennis elbow, is a type of epicondylitis that causes pain in the outer part of the elbow. Lateral epicondylitis is an overuse and muscle strain injury. It is caused due to repeated contraction of the forearm muscle, which is used to straighten and raise the hand and wrist in activities like sports (tennis), using plumbing tools, driving screws, painting, cutting up cooking ingredients (particularly meat), and repetitive computer mouse use. The symptoms of lateral epicondylitis are pain and weakness radiating from the outside of the elbow into the forearm and wrist, which may make it hard to grip an object, shake hands, turn a doorknob, and hold a coffee cup. The risk factors for lateral epicondylitis may include age (common in adults in age 30 to 50), occupation (plumbers, painters, carpenters, and butchers), and certain sports (rackets sports like tennis).

Lateral epicondylitis can be diagnosed through medical history, physical examination, X-ray, MRI, and electromyography (EMG). Furthermore, treatment options for lateral epicondylitis include physical therapy, injections, ultrasonic tenotomy (TENEX procedure), and surgery to remove damaged tissues.

What are the Similarities Between Medial and Lateral Epicondylitis?

• Medial and lateral epicondylitis are two types of epicondylitis.
• Both conditions cause inflammation of the tendons.
• Both conditions involve overuse and muscle strain injuries.
• They may cause similar symptoms like pain and weakness in the affected region.
• Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examinations and imaging tests.
• They are treated through specific therapy and surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Medial and Lateral Epicondylitis?

Medial epicondylitis causes pain in the inner part of the elbow, whereas lateral epicondylitis causes pain in the outer part of the elbow. Thus, this is the key difference between medial and lateral epicondylitis. Furthermore, the risk factors for medial epicondylitis include being 40 or older, repetitive activity, obesity, and smoking. On the other hand, the risk factors for lateral epicondylitis include age (common in adults in age 30 to 50), occupation (plumbers, painters, carpenters, and butchers), and certain sports (rackets sports like tennis).

The below infographic presents the differences between medial and lateral epicondylitis in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – Medial vs Lateral Epicondylitis

The inflammation of tendons is called epicondylitis. Medial and lateral epicondylitis are two types of epicondylitis. Medial epicondylitis is characterized by pain in the inner part of the elbow, whereas lateral epicondylitis is characterized by pain in the outer part of the elbow. So, this is the key difference between medial and lateral epicondylitis.

Reference:

1. “Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s and Baseball Elbow).” Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s and Baseball Elbow) | Johns Hopkins Medicine, 8 Aug. 2021.
2. “Tennis Elbow.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 25 Feb. 2021.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Golfers-Elbow SAG” By Scientific Animations –  (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Tennis Elbow” By BruceBlaus – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia