Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylalgia): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

If you’ve ever felt a sharp or aching pain on the outside of your elbow, especially after gripping, lifting, or playing sports like tennis, you may be experiencing a common condition called Tennis Elbow. Despite the name, this injury isn’t limited to tennis players—it affects anyone who repetitively uses their forearm and wrist muscles.

At SSCP Physiotherapy, we see tennis elbow (also known as lateral epicondylalgia) regularly, and the good news is, with the right treatment plan, most people recover well.

What is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis Elbow is a painful condition that occurs when the tendons that attach to the outside of the elbow (lateral epicondyle) become irritated or overloaded. This usually happens from repetitive use of the forearm muscles, leading to small microtears and inflammation around the tendon.

Common Causes

You don’t need to be a tennis player to develop this condition! Some common triggers include:

• Repetitive activities such as typing, gardening, painting, or manual work.

• Sports involving gripping or racquet use (tennis, squash, pickleball).

• Sudden increase in activity, like lifting heavier weights at the gym.

• Poor movement mechanics, such as overuse of the wrist and forearm instead of the larger shoulder and back muscles.

Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

• Pain or tenderness on the outside of the elbow.

• Discomfort that worsens with gripping, shaking hands, turning a doorknob, or lifting.

• Stiffness in the elbow, especially in the morning.

• Weakness in grip strength.

Symptoms often build up gradually, but without treatment, the pain can persist for months.

How Physiotherapy Can Help

Physiotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for Tennis Elbow. At SSCP Physiotherapy, we use evidence-based approaches tailored to your needs, including:

• Assessment & Education – Understanding what movements aggravate your elbow and how to modify activities.

• Manual Therapy – Hands-on techniques to reduce pain and improve mobility.

• Exercise Therapy – Specific strengthening and stretching exercises to promote tendon healing and restore strength.

• Acupuncture and Dry Needling – A treatment option that can stimulate healing in stubborn cases.

• Load Management – Gradually reintroducing activities to build resilience and prevent recurrence.

• Bracing or Taping – Sometimes used short-term to reduce strain during daily activities.

Recovery and Prognosis

Most people start to feel improvement within a few weeks of consistent treatment, though full recovery may take several months depending on the severity. The key is early intervention—the sooner you seek help, the faster you can return to pain-free activity.

When to Seek Help

If you’ve had ongoing elbow pain for more than a few weeks, or if simple tasks like carrying groceries or lifting a kettle are becoming difficult, it’s time to book an appointment. Left untreated, tennis elbow can become a long-term problem.

Tennis Elbow can be frustrating, but it’s highly treatable with the right care plan. Our physiotherapist at SSCP Physiotherapy can guide you through every stage of recovery—so you can get back to sport, work, and daily life without pain.

📞 Call us today or book online at sscp.com.au to start your recovery journey.