What the Article Actually Reports

According to LBC’s sourcing:

40 Motability cars were leased to people who cited tennis elbow.

The criticism: “Tennis elbow usually resolves with rest — why are taxpayers shelling out for a car?”
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The piece implies abuse of the system but fails to explain:

Whether those recipients had comorbid conditions.

That Motability is functional-based, not condition-based.

That PIP eligibility hinges on the impact on mobility — not the diagnosis alone.

What the Research Shows
Tennis Elbow + Psychological Impact

Numerous medical studies document clinically significant anxiety and depression in individuals with Tennis Elbow. One found 34% had comorbid mood disorders, and their pain scores were higher on average
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CORE
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The condition is also strongly tied to kinesiophobia — a fear of use/injury that drastically affects range of motion and life quality
ResearchGate
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Qualitative interviews confirm patients experience severe sleep disruption, work impairment, functional disability, and social withdrawal even from mild-sounding conditions
PMC
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Social Anxiety Disorder

SAD affects about 8–13% of the general population, and can be severely disabling
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People with SAD often avoid basic mobility activities like transit or shops due to panic, dizziness, palpitations — getting out of bed becomes impossible
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This disorder often coexists with depression or panic disorders, magnifying the disability
PMC
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