If your doctor says you have tennis elbow, you might wonder what in the world they’re talking about since you don’t even play tennis! Surprisingly, tennis elbow doesn’t just affect tennis players; in fact, you can get tennis elbow from all kinds of sports, activities, and even duties on the job. Tennis elbow is a more common name for what is known in the medical field as lateral epicondylitis. This is an overuse injury that affects the tendons that connect the muscles in your forearm to the bones in your elbow. Repetitive activities that emphasize the elbows, forearms, and wrists can all lead to tennis elbow, and physiotherapy is one type of treatment that can help.
How Tennis Elbow Happens
Lateral epicondylitis got its nickname based on the repetitive backhand swing in tennis, which involves a strong grip on a tennis racket while you mainly utilize your forearms to hit a ball. This type of motion done over and over again can put pressure and strain on the muscles and tendons in your forearm, and you may start to experience pain on your elbow. The tendons in your forearm can become inflamed when they are aggravated, which can be painful. The muscles can even strain or develop tiny tears due to overuse. When you have a tight grip on a racket or tool, it can also cause you to tense up your forearm muscles and tendons, which puts pressure and pain on your elbow.
Tennis elbow is a relatively common sports injury for people who participate in racquet sports and other sports that involve a lot of arm movements. It is also common off the field, like in musicians of certain instruments or jobs that require the use of heavy tools or repetitive motions, like carpentry, painting, and plumbing. No matter whether you are on the job or in the field, you can develop tennis elbow, and that pain can start to affect your ability to move through your daily life.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow often starts as a mild ache on the outside of the elbow that gradually becomes more noticeable over time. Because a condition like tennis elbow is caused by repetitive strain rather than a singular injury, many people don’t immediately connect their symptoms to a specific activity. The pain is typically felt where the forearm muscles attach to the bony part of the elbow and may radiate down into the forearm or wrist.
One of the most common signs of tennis elbow is pain that gets worse during everyday movements. Simple actions like lifting a coffee mug, turning a doorknob, typing, or shaking hands can suddenly become uncomfortable. Over time, the affected arm may feel weaker, making it harder to grip objects or perform tasks that once felt effortless.
Common symptoms of tennis elbow include:
- Pain or burning on the outer part of the elbow
- Tenderness when pressing on the elbow
- Weak grip strength
- Pain that increases with repetitive motions of the wrist or forearm
- Stiffness in the elbow, especially in the morning
Symptoms may improve with rest, but often return as soon as the repetitive activity resumes. Without proper treatment, tennis elbow can progress from occasional discomfort to persistent pain that interferes with work, hobbies, and daily life. Recognizing these symptoms early can help you seek care before the condition becomes more difficult to manage.
How Tennis Elbow Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing tennis elbow typically begins with a thorough physical examination. A healthcare provider will review your symptoms, ask about your daily activities, job duties, and any sports or hobbies that involve repetitive arm movements. Because tennis elbow is an overuse injury, understanding how you use your arm is an important part of making an accurate diagnosis.
During the exam, your provider may test the strength and flexibility of your elbow, wrist, and forearm. Certain movements, such as extending the wrist or gripping an object, may reproduce pain, which helps your doctor confirm the condition. The area around the outside of the elbow is often tender to the touch, and these findings are usually enough to diagnose tennis elbow.
In some cases, your doctor may recommend diagnostic imaging, especially if symptoms are severe or not improving with initial treatment. These tests can help rule out other causes of elbow pain, such as arthritis or nerve-related issues.
Diagnostic tools may include:
- X-rays to rule out bone-related conditions
- MRI scans to assess tendon damage or small tears
- Ultrasound imaging to evaluate soft tissue inflammation
A proper diagnosis is essential for creating an effective treatment plan. Identifying tennis elbow early allows for conservative care options, like physiotherapy or chiropractic treatment, that you can get started on before the condition becomes chronic or more difficult to treat.
Three Treatment Options for Tennis Elbow
Here are three treatment options to consider if you struggle with tennis elbow.
R.I.C.E.
R.I.C.E. is an at-home remedy for mild cases of tennis elbow. It stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Rest is key to you experiencing pain relief after an overuse injury like tennis elbow. In order to manage the pain, you need to take time to rest in between activities and keep the pressure off of your affected elbow, forearm, and wrist. If you know a sport you love is causing you this type of elbow pain, but you want to keep participating, then make sure you are taking healthy breaks in between to give your elbow a chance to heal. Icing the area can also help to address the swelling and inflammation that can occur. Compression is also helpful in addressing inflammation and can help provide more stability in your elbow or wrist. Elevating the area helps to reduce blood flow temporarily so the swelling can go down.
Physiotherapy
If you struggle with elbow pain that won’t go away even after you try at-home remedies like R.I.C.E., then you should see a doctor for physiotherapy. A physical therapist can assess how your muscles and tendons have been affected by the repetitive motions and help address your pain. Physiotherapy for tennis elbow will focus on pain management through stretches and gentle massage of your sore muscles. A physical therapist can also walk you through stretches and exercises that can help you warm up before participating in the activity that was causing you pain. Stretches and exercises can also help you to regain range of motion and strengthen your muscles so they better support the elbow.
Chiropractic Care
A chiropractor can also help you experience pain relief through an all-natural and non-invasive treatment approach. When you see a chiropractor for tennis elbow, they will want to assess the elbow joint and also the shoulder and wrist to determine what isn’t functioning well and what areas could be better supported. Any misalignments can be gently and safely corrected by a chiropractor, which will also help restore blood flow to the area. Chiropractors also use therapeutic massage and other types of techniques to help improve functioning in the area.
How Long Does Tennis Elbow Take to Heal?
The timeline for healing from tennis elbow can vary depending on the severity of the injury, how long you have been experiencing symptoms, and how quickly treatment begins. Mild cases may improve within a few weeks when rest and conservative treatments are applied early. However, if the condition has been ignored or aggravated over time, recovery can take several months.
For many people, tennis elbow develops gradually, and continuing the repetitive activity that caused the injury can slow healing. Without proper care, the tendons may continue to weaken, leading to ongoing pain and limited function. This is why early intervention is so important.
General recovery timelines may look like this:
- Mild cases: A few weeks with rest, icing, and activity modification
- Moderate cases: Several months with physiotherapy or chiropractic care
- Chronic cases: Longer recovery times, especially if treatment is delayed
Consistent treatment and following professional guidance can significantly improve healing time. Stretching, strengthening exercises, and proper body mechanics all play a role in supporting recovery. Addressing contributing factors, such as poor ergonomics or improper technique, can also prevent setbacks during the healing process.
While tennis elbow can be frustrating, most people experience significant improvement with conservative care and patience. The key is allowing the tendons time to heal while supporting them with the right treatments.
Tips for Preventing Tennis Elbow from Coming Back
Once tennis elbow improves, taking steps to prevent it from returning is just as important as treating the initial injury. Because the condition is linked to repetitive motions and overuse, small adjustments to daily habits can make a big difference in long-term elbow health.
Warming up before physical activity helps prepare the muscles and tendons for movement. Gentle stretching of the forearm, wrist, and shoulder can improve flexibility and reduce strain on the elbow. Strengthening exercises that target the forearm and upper arm muscles can also help provide better support for the elbow joint.
Prevention strategies include:
- Using proper technique during sports or repetitive tasks
- Taking frequent breaks from repetitive movements
- Adjusting workstations or tools to reduce strain
- Avoiding gripping objects too tightly
- Gradually increasing activity levels rather than overloading the arm
Ergonomic improvements at work and home are especially important for those who use tools, keyboards, or musical instruments regularly. A healthcare provider or physical therapist can help identify problem areas and recommend adjustments to reduce stress on the elbow.
Paying attention to early warning signs, such as mild soreness or stiffness, can help prevent a full flare-up. Addressing discomfort early with rest or professional care can keep tennis elbow from becoming a recurring issue and help you stay active and pain-free.
What’s the Difference Between Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow?
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are both overuse injuries that affect the tendons around the elbow, but they occur in different locations. Tennis elbow (known as lateral epicondylitis) causes pain on the outside of the elbow and is commonly linked to repetitive wrist extension and gripping motions. Golfer’s elbow (known as medial epicondylitis), on the other hand, causes pain on the inside of the elbow and is often associated with repetitive wrist flexion or forearm rotation. While the conditions share similar symptoms and treatment approaches, proper diagnosis is important to ensure the affected tendons are treated correctly.
Stay pain free on your next adventure! At AICA Orthopedics in Conyers, our team of chiropractors and physical therapists can work together to provide you with comprehensive, individualized care to address your tennis elbow pain so you can experience lasting pain relief.