Elbow pain in tennis players: not only lateral epicondylitis

Tennis-related elbow pain is commonly attributed to lateral epicondylitis, although several other disorders may produce similar symptoms, including medial epicondylitis, olecranon bursitis, and peripheral nerve loading or entrapment syndromes. The aim of this paper is to analyze painful elbow conditions in tennis players that may be mistaken for lateral epicondylitis and to identify possible biomechanical and technical trigger mechanisms associated with tennis practice. The study is based on a narrative analysis of the literature, integrated with considerations from functional anatomy and tennis technique. Particular attention is given to movement patterns that may increase tensile, shear, compressive, or neural stress at the elbow. From a practical perspective, the findings highlight the importance of differential diagnosis and suggest that technical optimization, load management, and multidisciplinary evaluation may contribute to reducing the risk of elbow pathologies in tennis players, especially in amateur athletes.