Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylalgia, is an overuse injury affecting the tendons that attach to the outside of the elbow. These tendons connect the forearm muscles to the bone and help you extend your wrist and fingers.
Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylalgia, is an overuse injury affecting the tendons that attach to the outside of the elbow.
Despite its name, only about 5% of people with tennis elbow actually play tennis!
Anyone who uses their forearm muscles repeatedly or under heavy load may develop this condition. Common examples include:
Tradespeople (bricklayers, painters, electricians, gardeners)
Office workers or those who type for long periods
People who’ve recently increased activity or started a new exercise
You may notice:
Pain or weakness when lifting, gripping or twisting (e.g. opening a jar)
Pain that worsens after activity
Tenderness on the outside of the elbow
Pain when extending the wrist
A physiotherapist can perform specific tests to confirm this diagnosis.
Extending your wrist will reproduce the pain you experience with this condition. This exercise may also be part of your rehab.
Recovery starts with a proper assessment to identify contributing factors such as muscle weakness or poor load management.
Treatment may include:
Individualised strengthening program to restore tendon capacity
Education about load management and avoiding aggravating movements
Taping or bracing to support the joint
Shockwave therapy – read more here
Manual therapy to improve mobility and relieve pain
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, where clinically indicated
Improvement is gradual, not linear — expect ups and downs along the way, but consistency is key.
If elbow pain is affecting your work, sport or daily activities, book an appointment with one of our experienced physiotherapists.
Our Penrith clinic team, has extensive experience helping people recover from overuse injuries like tennis elbow.
What causes tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury affecting the tendons on the outside of your elbow. It’s caused by repeated wrist or forearm movements and lifting.
Can physiotherapy help?
Yes. Physiotherapy helps by relieving pain with manual therapy and then progressively strengthening the tendon, improving flexibility, and reducing pain with techniques like shockwave therapy and taping.
How long does it take to recover from tennis elbow?
Most people notice improvement within 6–12 weeks, though full recovery may take longer depending on your activity levels.
Cook, J., Rio, E., Purdam, C. and Docking, S., 2016. Revisiting the continuum model of tendon pathology: what is its merit in clinical practice and research?. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(19), pp.1187-1191. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095422
Lapner, P., Alfonso, A., Hebert-Davies, J., Pollock, J., Marsh, J. and King, G., 2022. Nonoperative treatment of lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JSES International, 6(2), pp.321-330. doi: 10.1016/j.jseint.2021.11.010
Physiopedia. 2022. Lateral Epicondylitis. [online] Available at: <https://www.physio-pedia.com/Lateral_Epicondylitis> [Accessed 7 August 2022].
Sims, S., Miller, K., Elfar, J. and Hammert, W., 2014. Non-Surgical Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis: A Aystematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. HAND, 9(4), pp.419-446.
doi: 10.1007/s11552-014-9642-x
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666638321002590
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Lateral_Epicondylitishttps://www.physio-pedia.com/Tennis_Elbow_Management
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4235906/pdf/11552_2014_Article_9642.pdf
https://www.thehealthybodycompany.com.au/tennis-elbow/
https://www.thehealthybodycompany.com.au/have-you-been-handicapped-by-a-golf-injury/
