Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhen You Need Physical TherapyWhat Physical Therapy EntailsTennis Elbow ExercisesOutlookFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
When You Need Physical Therapy
What Physical Therapy Entails
Tennis Elbow Exercises
Outlook
Frequently Asked Questions
While up to 3% of the population experiences this condition at some point, most cases are mild and self-resolve.In some instances, however, physical therapy (PT) may be needed to prevent your tennis elbow from worsening.
If left untreated, lateral epicondylitis pain can become more intense and can significantly hinder your ability to perform daily tasks like using a computer, getting dressed, or lifting and carrying objects.
For more information about physical therapy for tennis elbow, take a look at the sections below.
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Tennis elbow is frequently a self-limiting condition and many minor cases resolve on their own with treatment like:
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Lateral epicondylitis typically begins with tenderness over a boney area (called the lateral epicondyle) on the outside of the elbow. Early on, this pain is typically only present when the muscles that attach to this area are turned on. The most irritating activities include:
In addition, tasks that involve turning the forearm so that your palm is facing upward can also be provocative.
As the condition progresses, the pain can get more intense and can spread into the muscles of the forearm and wrist.
Your symptoms can also become more frequent and may even start to be present at rest. If this occurs, or if activity modification does not significantly improve your symptoms after a few weeks, it is important to speak to a physical therapist.
Treating lateral epicondylitis with physical therapy was found to be more effective in reducing pain than self-management of the condition after six weeks of care.
There are several different things that a physical therapist does to help reduce the symptoms associated with tennis elbow. This includes:
While modalities like ultrasound or electrical stimulation may also be used for pain relief, their benefits are still in question, and they should not take priority over stretching and strengthening.
Your physical therapist may suggest a wide array of exercises to help you stretch and strengthen the affected area of the elbow. Some of the most common techniques are detailed below.
Pain During Physical TherapyWhile you may experience some mild soreness while performing these exercises, they should not cause sharp pain and should be stopped if they do.
Pain During Physical Therapy
While you may experience some mild soreness while performing these exercises, they should not cause sharp pain and should be stopped if they do.
4 Elbow Range of Motion Exercises
Wrist Stretch
Wrist Isometrics
Extension Eccentrics
Supination Eccentrics
Palm Slides
As mentioned previously, tennis elbow is typically a self-limiting condition with mild cases usually resolving on their own. Individuals with a more flared-up elbow that is not responding to activity modification alone may need to participate in therapy and perform the suggested exercises for several months before symptoms resolve. That said, PT has been found to improve your pain and function in as little as six weeks.
In rare cases, physical therapy does not provide relief from lateral epicondylitis andsurgery may be necessary. This is relatively uncommon and it is estimated that 80% to 95% of people respond to nonsurgical treatments. In these less frequently seen situations, up to four to six months of PT may be necessary after an operation to help you restore function in your arm and return to more physical tasks.
What kind of physical therapy can you do for tennis elbow?
Physical therapy focusing on improving flexibility and building strength in the shoulder blades, shoulder, forearm, wrist, and finger muscles can help combat the symptoms of tennis elbow.. Supplemental manual techniques focusing on massaging and mobilizing the affected area can also be performed.
How often should you do physical therapy exercises for tennis elbow?
Stretching exercises should be completed frequently (five times per day or more) each day. Strengthening exercises can be done in two different sessions in the same day. It’s best to check with your physical therapist to confirm cadence.
How long is physical therapy for tennis elbow?
While significant improvements in pain have been shown after six weeks of physical therapy, you may need to continue for two to three months depending on the severity of your condition. After being discharged from PT, it is important to continue with the prescribed exercises until the condition completely resolves.
A Word From Verywell
Tennis elbow can be a pesky and frustrating condition that can significantly limit your daily tasks. While it is OK to try to self-manage the condition at first, it is best to speak to a physical therapist about your issue if symptoms start to get more frequent or intense. Oftentimes, a few simple exercises and some education on the condition are all you need to rid yourself of your lateral epicondylitis pain.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cullinane FL, Boocock MG, Trevelyan FC.Is eccentric exercise an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis? A systematic review.Clin Rehabil. 28(1):3-19. doi:10.1177/0269215513491974Ahmad Z, Siddiqui N, Malik SS, Abdus-Samee M, Tytherleigh-Strong G, Rushton N.Lateral epicondylitis: A review of pathology and management.The Bone & Joint Journal. 95-B(9):1158-1164. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.95B9.29285Coombes BK, Bisset L, Vicenzino B.Management of lateral elbow tendinopathy: one size does not fit all.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 45(11):938-949. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5841Dingemanse R, Randsdorp M, Koes BW, Huisstede BMA.Evidence for the effectiveness of electrophysical modalities for treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review.Br J Sports Med. 48(12):957-965. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2012-091513American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cullinane FL, Boocock MG, Trevelyan FC.Is eccentric exercise an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis? A systematic review.Clin Rehabil. 28(1):3-19. doi:10.1177/0269215513491974Ahmad Z, Siddiqui N, Malik SS, Abdus-Samee M, Tytherleigh-Strong G, Rushton N.Lateral epicondylitis: A review of pathology and management.The Bone & Joint Journal. 95-B(9):1158-1164. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.95B9.29285Coombes BK, Bisset L, Vicenzino B.Management of lateral elbow tendinopathy: one size does not fit all.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 45(11):938-949. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5841Dingemanse R, Randsdorp M, Koes BW, Huisstede BMA.Evidence for the effectiveness of electrophysical modalities for treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review.Br J Sports Med. 48(12):957-965. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2012-091513American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cullinane FL, Boocock MG, Trevelyan FC.Is eccentric exercise an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis? A systematic review.Clin Rehabil. 28(1):3-19. doi:10.1177/0269215513491974Ahmad Z, Siddiqui N, Malik SS, Abdus-Samee M, Tytherleigh-Strong G, Rushton N.Lateral epicondylitis: A review of pathology and management.The Bone & Joint Journal. 95-B(9):1158-1164. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.95B9.29285Coombes BK, Bisset L, Vicenzino B.Management of lateral elbow tendinopathy: one size does not fit all.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 45(11):938-949. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5841Dingemanse R, Randsdorp M, Koes BW, Huisstede BMA.Evidence for the effectiveness of electrophysical modalities for treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review.Br J Sports Med. 48(12):957-965. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2012-091513American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).
Cullinane FL, Boocock MG, Trevelyan FC.Is eccentric exercise an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis? A systematic review.Clin Rehabil. 28(1):3-19. doi:10.1177/0269215513491974
Ahmad Z, Siddiqui N, Malik SS, Abdus-Samee M, Tytherleigh-Strong G, Rushton N.Lateral epicondylitis: A review of pathology and management.The Bone & Joint Journal. 95-B(9):1158-1164. doi:10.1302/0301-620X.95B9.29285
Coombes BK, Bisset L, Vicenzino B.Management of lateral elbow tendinopathy: one size does not fit all.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 45(11):938-949. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.5841
Dingemanse R, Randsdorp M, Koes BW, Huisstede BMA.Evidence for the effectiveness of electrophysical modalities for treatment of medial and lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review.Br J Sports Med. 48(12):957-965. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2012-091513
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis).
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