Tennis elbow is not limited to tennis
Tennis elbow usually causes pain on the outside of the elbow and may be aggravated by gripping, lifting or moving the wrist. Repeated tasks can contribute, but other joint, nerve or injury-related problems can also cause elbow pain. Symptoms on the inner elbow or associated hand tingling need their own assessment.
What an assessment may involve
Bring examples of the tools, sport, gym exercises or desk tasks that provoke symptoms. Your clinician may assess the elbow, wrist, shoulder and neck as relevant. Describe changes in workload, how long pain lasts after a task, and whether you have numbness or a recent injury.
Care and rehabilitation
Care can include adjusting the amount of gripping or lifting, progressive strengthening and practical changes to technique or equipment. The aim is to build tolerance for the tasks you need. Any hands-on care should have a clear role within that plan. A return to racquet sport may need staged hitting time rather than an immediate full match.
What should improvement look like?
Agree on a task you can monitor, such as lifting a kettle or using a tool for a defined period. Keep track of symptoms during the task and later that day. If the program is not helping, review the working diagnosis and options instead of automatically adding more sessions.
When to seek medical help
Seek urgent assessment after significant trauma, for deformity, rapidly increasing swelling, a hot red joint with fever, or new marked weakness or loss of sensation in the arm or hand.
Related information
Further reading
General information from Muscle Joint Bone Epping. Your clinician will discuss how it applies to you.