By Lara Rosenbaum

With its social nature and non-stop on-the-go action, it’s no wonder that tennis is so popular. But that popularity comes at a price, as lateral epicondyle tendinosis – commonly known as tennis elbow – one of the most common overuse injuries related to sports. We asked the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for some details, so you can keep yourself in the game.

Q. What exactly is tennis elbow?

A. According to ACSM, it’s primarily an overuse injury, involving tiny tears in the extensor muscles that attach on the lateral side of the forearm. Tennis elbow is often misdiagnosed as tendonitis, which simply implies inflammation in the area. However, the pain associated with tennis elbow sometimes involves no swelling at all.

Q. What are the most common signs?

A. Pain in your elbow joint that can radiate into your forearm and wrist. Some people also experience weakness in the forearm muscles, and pain when gripping and moving, like twisting a doorknob.

Q: How can active women prevent it?

A: Try to keep your wrists in a neutral position during repetitive activities.