Prevalence and Risk Factors of Lateral Epicondylitis in a Mountain Village in Japan

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of lateral epicondylitis in a mountain village in Japan. METHODS: 176 men and 246 women aged 24 to 86 (mean, 61) years from a mountain village in Japan underwent regular medical examination and completed a self-administered questionnaire with items related to gender, weight, height, dominant hand, heaviness of labour (no job, light, intermediate, and heavy), presence of elbow pain 2 weeks before examination, and smoking and drinking experience. The diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis was based on self-reported symptoms and clinical signs. RESULTS: The prevalence of lateral epicondylitis in a mountain village in Japan was 3.8% (95% confidence interval CI, 2.2%-6.1%). Of the 422 subjects, 47 had elbow pain and 16 of them were diagnosed to have definite lateral epicondylitis. 15 of them were right-handed and had involvement of the left (n=8) and right (n=7) sides; the remaining one was left-handed and had involvement of the left side. The dominant hand was not associated with the affected side (p=1.00). Heaviness of labour was not associated with the elbow pain scores. The prevalence was highest in subjects aged 50 to 59 years (9% 95% CI, 3.8%-17.1%) and those with no job (14% 95% CI, 1.1%-44.1%). CONCLUSION: Lateral epicondylitis was not associated with gender, age, body mass index, dominant hand, heaviness of labour, smoking, or drinking.