Tennis elbow occurs mostly in people who are exposed to overstrain through their work or through sporting activities. It particularly affects craftsmen, mechanics, manual workers (e.g. builders) and only rarely tennis players! Tennis elbow often occurs in the elderly.

Severe pain occurs around the outside of the elbow when rotating the forearm, when straightening the wrist against resistance, stretching the middle finger against resistance and when straightening the elbow and bending the wrist at the same time. The pain can be so severe that it is almost impossible to lift even light objects. The pain often radiates into the muscles of the forearm. If the patient makes a fist and then moves this upwards or downwards, the pain at the elbow increases. The forearm muscles are frequently very tense. Mild sensory disturbances may also occur.