Tennis elbow, or Lateral Epicondylitis, is pain that is felt at the outside of the elbow joint. However, it is not always caused by playing tennis! The elbow joint is surrounded by muscles and tendons that move the elbow joint, and also the wrist and hand. When these muscles and tendons become overloaded, they can cause pain at the bone on the outside of the elbow joint—the lateral epicondyle. The tendons attaching muscle to the elbow joint become inflamed and cause the Tennis Elbow pain. Twisting movements of the arm become most painful, like opening a jar or doing some DIY with a screwdriver. Pain that occurs on the inside of the elbow joint is commonly called golfer’s elbow.

Reducing strenuous activity of the affected elbow will help to ease symptoms, as will the application of a cold compress. Physiotherapy is very helpful to treat the muscles and tendons that are causing the elbow pain. Treatment includes joint manipulation, muscular release work of the area, and dry needling. Your Chartered Physiotherapist will then prescribe you an exercise programme to stretch tight muscles and also to strengthen the muscles around the elbow joint. This will restore pain-free full range of movement and function of the elbow joint.