ELBOW, FOREARM OR HAND PAIN? TENNIS ELBOW? ⠀ EXTENSOR CARPI RADIALIS BREVIS MUSCLE (ECRB) ⠀ [ANATOMY, FUNCTION, PATHOLOGY & PALPATION] ⠀ ⠀ The ECRB, along with the extensor carpi radialis longus and brachioradialis comprise the “radial group” of muscles. ⠀ The ECRB is also one of the four muscles involved in tennis elbow (lateral elbow tendinopathy / lateral epicondylitis/osis). The other three muscles of tennis elbow are extensor digitorum, extensor digiti minimi, and the extensor carpi ulnaris. ⠀ The ECRB runs from the lateral epicondyle down to the 3rd metacarpal bone, above your middle finger. At the lateral epicondyle it is covered by its big brother, the extensor carpi radialis longus. ⠀ This muscle belongs to the extensor group of your wrist. During a strong grip or while making a fist, it prevents the wrist from flexion. Hence, it stabilizes it. It also extends and abducts your wrist. ⠀ Due to its direct attachment at the wrist, this muscle can induce pain at its back, hand and forearm, if it is too tight. The same pain can be created if trigger points (TPs) in this muscle are existent . ⠀ Beside the pain that you might feel at the back of your hand, it is possible that your grip weakens tremendously if your extensor carpi radialis brevis is strained, has too much tension or harbors TPs. The weakness can rise to such an extend that you might drop even the lightest objects, like a cup of coffee. ⠀ The extensor carpi radialis brevis often gets overloaded and develops TPs due to repetitive use of a strong grip. Thus, one or more of the following activities leave you with a higher risk of straining this muscle. Surely this list is not complete, but it will give you some examples. ▪️Rock climbing ▪️Gardening ▪️Plumbing ▪️Heavy weight lifting ▪️Gymnastics, especially rings and bars ▪️Frequent backhand play in tennis ▪️Moving and carrying heavy furniture