How to Treat Tennis Elbow and Restore Forearm Strength
Tennis elbow can make everyday activities like lifting, gripping, typing, or playing sports painful and difficult. At OrthoCenter, our orthopedic specialists provide personalized tennis elbow treatment to relieve pain, restore strength, and help you return to your normal routine as quickly as possible. We emphasize conservative, nonsurgical care whenever appropriate and offer advanced surgical treatment for patients who need additional intervention.
What Is Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)?
Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, occurs when the tendons that connect your forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow become irritated or develop tiny tears from repetitive use. These tendons control wrist extension and gripping movements, making them vulnerable to overuse.
Although commonly associated with racquet sports, most people who develop tennis elbow have never played tennis. Repetitive activities such as lifting, painting, carpentry, gardening, typing, and using hand tools can all place repeated stress on the tendons and lead to the condition.
As part of our comprehensive elbow orthopaedic care, the specialists at OrthoCenter diagnose and treat a variety of elbow conditions, including tendon injuries, nerve conditions, and sports-related injuries.
What Causes Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is usually caused by repetitive stress rather than a single injury. Repeated gripping, lifting, twisting, or wrist movements create tiny tears within the tendon over time, eventually causing pain and weakness around the elbow.
While athletes can develop tennis elbow from repetitive backhand swings, the condition is also common among construction workers, painters, mechanics, landscapers, office workers, healthcare professionals, and anyone who performs repetitive arm movements.
Common Tennis Elbow Risk Factors
- Repetitive lifting or gripping
- Racquet sports with improper technique
- Manual labor
- Frequent computer use
- Weightlifting with poor form
- Age-related tendon wear
- Sudden increases in activity
Understanding what caused your tennis elbow helps our orthopedic specialists create a treatment plan focused on reducing pain, improving function, and preventing future problems.
Symptoms of Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow symptoms often develop gradually and may worsen over time. Common symptoms include:
- Pain or tenderness on the outside of the elbow
- Pain that extends into the forearm or wrist
- Weak grip strength
- Difficulty lifting objects
- Pain when shaking hands or turning a doorknob
- Discomfort while gripping tools, sports equipment, or other objects
- Increased pain during repetitive wrist and forearm movements
If elbow pain persists or begins interfering with your work, hobbies, or daily activities, an orthopedic evaluation can help determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
How Is Tennis Elbow Diagnosed?
Diagnosing tennis elbow typically begins with a physical examination and a review of your symptoms, activity level, and daily routines. Your orthopedic specialist will evaluate the location of your pain, assess your range of motion, and perform specific movements of the elbow, wrist, and forearm to determine whether the tendon is irritated or damaged.
During the exam, your physician may apply pressure to the outside of the elbow or ask you to perform certain wrist and gripping movements to identify pain patterns associated with tennis elbow. These evaluations help distinguish tennis elbow from other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, including arthritis, nerve irritation, or other tendon injuries.
In some cases, additional testing may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis or rule out other causes of elbow pain. These tests may include:
- X-rays: Used to evaluate the bones and rule out fractures, arthritis, or other structural issues.
- Ultrasound imaging: Provides real-time images of the tendons and may help identify tendon changes, inflammation, or tears.
- MRI scans: Create detailed images of soft tissues and may be used to evaluate the severity of tendon damage.
- Electrodiagnostic testing (EMG): May be recommended when symptoms suggest nerve involvement rather than a tendon injury.
An accurate diagnosis allows your orthopedic specialist to create a treatment plan focused on addressing the source of your elbow pain and restoring normal function.
How to Treat Tennis Elbow
Treatment begins with a comprehensive orthopedic evaluation. Your physician will review your symptoms, perform a physical examination, and may recommend X-rays to rule out fractures, arthritis, or other elbow conditions. In some cases, an MRI or other imaging may be used to evaluate tendon damage.
Most patients improve without surgery through rest, activity modification, physical therapy, and other nonsurgical treatment options. Your treatment plan will be based on your symptoms, activity level, occupation, and treatment goals, with an emphasis on relieving pain and restoring normal function.
Conservative Treatment Options for Tennis Elbow
Most cases of tennis elbow respond well to nonsurgical treatment. The goal is to reduce pain, allow the tendon to heal, restore strength, and prevent the condition from returning.
Your orthopedic specialist may recommend:
- Activity modification
- Ice therapy
- Anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs)
- Physical therapy
- Stretching and strengthening exercises
- Counterforce braces or elbow straps
- Wrist splints when appropriate
- Corticosteroid injections for select patients
- Ultrasound-guided injections when indicated
Physical therapy is often an important part of recovery because it helps improve flexibility, strengthen supporting muscles, and reduce stress on the injured tendon. Our sports medicine specialists can help guide patients through treatment options designed around their activity level and recovery goals.
Advanced Non-Surgical Treatments for Tennis Elbow
Most patients improve with conservative treatment options such as activity modification, physical therapy, and bracing. However, patients who continue to experience symptoms may benefit from additional nonsurgical treatments designed to reduce pain and support tendon healing.
Depending on your condition, your orthopedic specialist may recommend:
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections: A treatment that uses a concentrated sample of your own blood platelets to support the body’s natural healing response.
- Ultrasound-guided injections: Imaging technology that helps physicians precisely deliver certain treatments to the affected area.
- Shockwave therapy: A treatment that uses targeted sound waves to stimulate healing in damaged tendon tissue.
- Percutaneous tenotomy: A minimally invasive procedure that removes damaged tendon tissue and encourages the growth of healthier tissue.
Your physician will determine whether these treatments are appropriate based on the severity of your symptoms, the condition of the tendon, and your response to previous treatments.
Surgical Treatment Options for Tennis Elbow
Surgery is generally recommended only after several months of conservative treatment have failed to relieve symptoms. The procedure removes damaged tendon tissue and repairs the affected tendon to restore strength and function.
Depending on your condition, your orthopedic surgeon may recommend:
- Tendon debridement
- Tendon repair or reconstruction
- Arthroscopic (minimally invasive) surgery
- Open tendon repair
The elbow specialists at OrthoCenter offer advanced treatment options for patients who need additional care after conservative treatments have been unsuccessful. Following surgery, physical therapy helps restore range of motion, strength, and function, allowing most patients to gradually return to work, sports, and everyday activities.
How Long Does Tennis Elbow Take to Heal?
Recovery from tennis elbow varies depending on the severity of the tendon injury, how long symptoms have been present, and how closely you follow your treatment plan.
Many patients improve with nonsurgical treatment, but tendon injuries often heal gradually. Symptoms may take several weeks or months to fully resolve, especially when repetitive activities continue to place stress on the elbow.
Factors that may affect recovery include:
- The extent of tendon irritation or damage
- How quickly treatment begins
- Whether aggravating activities are modified
- Participation in physical therapy and strengthening exercises
- Overall health and activity level
Following your orthopedic specialist’s recommendations and gradually returning to normal activities can help improve recovery and reduce the likelihood of recurring elbow pain.
Find the Right Tennis Elbow Treatment Option at OrthoCenter
Don’t let elbow pain keep you from the activities you enjoy. The orthopedic specialists at OrthoCenter provide personalized tennis elbow treatment to help relieve pain, restore function, and get you back to your daily routine. Schedule your appointment today to find the right treatment option for your condition.