How to Effectively Treat Tennis Elbow

Understanding how to treat tennis elbow (a.k.a golfer’s or mouse elbow) can affect your quality of life due to pain, loss of forearm strength, and decreased flexibility. With the right information, you can start addressing these issues immediately at home. Keep reading to learn how to treat tennis elbow.

Home Remedies

Treatment at home is always the best place to start when addressing tennis elbow. It requires no wait time to see your doctor or physical therapist and can start providing relief almost instantly, or within a few days. Here is a quick overview of what home options you can start immediately.

• Resting the affected area for several days to weeks to allow healing
• Activity modification to prevent aggravation of symptoms
• Use of an ice pack or ice massage
• Use of a heating pad
• Home exercises, such as stretching and strengthening
• Self-administered massage
• Use of a brace, tape, or splint with aggravating activities
• Anti-inflammatory medications to reduce swelling or pain

For more information on other home remedies for tennis elbow, check out our full resource here.

Physical Therapy

Working with a physical therapist is a great way to expedite your recovery from tennis elbow. You will work with your therapist to design a treatment program that addresses your specific issues related to elbow function, overuse, pain, strength, and flexibility. Plus, they will educate you in ways to prevent future injuries and how to fully return to your normal daily activities pain-free. This will help you get back to gripping, reaching, and sports (especially racquet sports) quicker.

More About What to Expect from Physical Therapy for Tennis Elbow

Tennis Elbow Stretches

Whether you choose to start a stretching routine on your own or with the guidance of a professional, the focus is straightforward. The goal is to address stiff, restricted areas with stretching. This will help restore elbow mobility, promote blood flow for healing affected forearm muscles, and decrease overall pain.

Strengthening

It is likely that your arm strength, particularly the wrist and forearm, will be affected by the pain and inflammation you’re experiencing. This is why strengthening exercises are crucial during recovery. Initially, you will start with low complexity relatively pain-free movements. Expect to progress with the amount of coordination and resistance as you heal and improve.

Massage for Tennis Elbow

The affected tendons of the elbow are very easily located with palpation. This means massage is an effective way to address these injured superficial tendons. Specific techniques, such as cross friction massage, can be used to address the inflamed tendons themselves. Other options may include addressing pain and stiffness throughout the forearms muscles, wrist and upper arm. These can be done at home or under the guidance of a professional such as a massage therapist or physical therapist.

Techniques for Massage for Tennis Elbow

Acupuncture

This traditional treatment option can decrease pain and restore balance to the elbow. This is done by inserting small painless needles into areas of the elbow that promote healing and pain relief. Other areas of the body may be needed too to promote overall health as well. This option can also be combined with other traditional treatments, such as cupping.

Pain Management

Pain is the main reason for seeking treatment for tennis elbow. Initially, getting pain symptoms under control will involve modalities that provide quick short-term relief.

Joint Support

To promote healing and rest for the elbow joint, sometimes it just needs a little outside assistance. Use of tape, braces, or splints can decrease strain and potentially promote better mechanics of the arm with normal daily activities.

Safe and Effective Treatment for Tennis Elbow

If you experience the onset of severe pain, tingling, a rapid decrease in arm strength, or any other symptoms you are concerned about, bring them to your doctor’s attention. An X-ray or MRI may be ordered to rule out other complications if needed.

Nonsurgical options are best for treating this injury. Use your symptoms of tennis elbow as a gauge for what treatment options are best for you and when you can progress. Tennis elbow pain is considered self-limiting. This means that if you take the time to rest and care for your elbow, you will be back on track in no time.