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Triceps Tendinitis, Sports Medicine

Adam Culver, MD, Anthony Martin, MD, CAQSM and David E. Price, MD, FAAFP, CAQSM Reviewed 04/2019
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Inflammation of the triceps tendon at or proximal to the insertion onto the olecranon

  • Classically an overuse injury due to repetitive extension of the elbow or extreme force placed on...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Increasing pain in the posterior elbow over several weeks that worsens over course of the day and associated with occasional morning stiffness

  • Improvement can be seen with periods of i...

TREATMENT

  • Long-term treatment:

    • Prevention is vital in high-risk populations such as weight lifters, carpenters/construction workers, or guitar players; the key to prevention is dynamic warm-up, avoidin...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Return to sport/activity when no longer tender at or above tendon insertion, strength regained, and full range of motion 

REFERENCES

1
Taylor S, Hannafin J. Evaluation and management of elbow tendinopathy. Sports Health.  2012;4(5):384–393.
2
Keener JD, Sethi PM. Distal triceps tendon injuries. Hand Clin.  2015;31...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Evidence suggests that the increased risk of rupture with injection serves as a contraindication to direct tendon injection with corticosteroid.

  • Emerging evidence for PRP and its abilit...

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