What common sports activity can lead to lateral epicondylitis?

Lateral epicondylitis, commonly known as "tennis elbow," is an overuse injury that primarily affects the tendons on the outer part of the elbow. The condition often arises from repetitive motions that result in strain on these tendons. Tennis, as a sport, involves a significant amount of repetitive wrist and arm movements, particularly during strokes like forehands and backhands. This constant motion can lead to microtearing of the tendons, inflammation, and pain around the lateral epicondyle of the humerus, which is why tennis is closely associated with this condition.

In contrast, while weightlifting, running, and swimming may also cause injuries, they do not have the same specific repetitive, high-stress actions that directly target the tendons involved in lateral epicondylitis. Therefore, tennis stands out as the primary common sports activity leading to this particular condition.