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What is triceps tendinopathy?
Triceps tendinopathy causes pain where the triceps tendon attaches at the back of the elbow. Pressing, throwing, and repeated elbow extension commonly expose a gap between workload and tendon capacity.
The same label can behave differently from one person to the next. The timing, location, type of symptoms, injury mechanism, and response to movement help distinguish a local tissue problem from referred pain, nerve involvement, or a pattern that should be evaluated elsewhere first.
Common signs of triceps tendinopathy
People do not need every sign below to fit this pattern. They are useful clues to discuss during an evaluation, especially when paired with what changes the symptom and what activity has become difficult.
- back-of-elbow pain
- pain during pressing or push-ups
- tenderness above the elbow point
- symptoms with forceful extension
What may be loading the area
A contributor is not always a single cause. Tissue capacity, recovery, the size of a recent load change, and the mechanics of the task can overlap. For triceps tendinopathy, the history commonly examines:
- 1pressing-volume increase
- 2throwing or overhead work
- 3insufficient recovery
What a useful assessment should answer
An assessment begins with the story, then tests the findings that can change a decision. For this presentation, that usually means looking at the items below and comparing them with the demands of work, daily life, or sport.
Imaging can be useful when the history or examination indicates it, but a scan is not a substitute for matching the finding to symptoms, function, and the clinical screen.
Clinically reviewed
Reviewed by Dr. Tamara Lovelace, DC, DACBSP, ICCSP, Chiropractic Sports Doctor and clinic director, on August 25, 2026.
This page explains what we look at and what care can involve. It is not a diagnosis, and it cannot replace an examination. Bring the problem in and a provider will tell you what is going on.
