Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is caused by overuse of the forearm muscles, leading to small tears in the tendon fibres around the elbow. While racket sports are a common cause, many everyday activities can also trigger it.

Common causes include:

• repetitive use of tools such as screwdrivers or scissors
• activities that involve frequent wrist extension or gripping
• sports such as tennis, squash or badminton
• computer use, particularly frequent mouse use

Risk factors

Factors that increase the risk of developing tennis elbow include:

• frequent repetitive arm and wrist movements
• poor technique in sports or activities
• age (most common between 30 and 50 years)
• jobs involving heavy lifting or gripping

At your consultation, your specialist will ask about your symptoms and activities, and perform a physical examination. They may press on the affected area and ask you to move your arm in certain ways to identify where the pain is coming from.

Additional tests may include:

• X-ray to rule out arthritis
• ultrasound or an MRI scan to check for tendon damage

While tennis elbow is not always preventable, you can reduce your risk by:

• warming up and stretching before sports or repetitive activities
• using proper equipment and technique when playing racket sports
• taking regular breaks from repetitive tasks
• strengthening forearm muscles with targeted exercises
• avoiding sudden increases in activity levels

Most people recover from tennis elbow with rest and treatment. However, in some cases it may lead to:

• persistent pain that lasts for months
• reduced grip strength and difficulty performing everyday tasks
• recurrence of symptoms if the tendon is repeatedly strained

Treatment for tennis elbow focuses on reducing pain and promoting tendon healing. Your consultant will advise you as to which treatment method is most appropriate for you. 

Options include:

• rest and activity modification
• ice packs and pain relief medication such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• physiotherapy exercises to strengthen the forearm muscles
• braces or straps to reduce strain on the tendons
• steroid injections for severe pain
• platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections in selected cases
• surgery (rarely needed) if symptoms persist for more than 12 months despite treatment

We are able to offer appointments to referred paediatric patients aged 12-18. For full information on our paediatrics service, please visit our main Paediatrics page.

At Welbeck, our orthopaedic specialists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient. 

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.

Is tennis elbow the same as golfer’s elbow?

No. Tennis elbow affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow, while golfer’s elbow affects those on the inside.

How long does it take to recover from tennis elbow?

Recovery time varies. Mild cases may improve within weeks, while more severe cases can take several months.

Can tennis elbow heal without treatment?

In some cases, tennis elbow may improve on its own with rest. However, treatment can speed up recovery and help prevent recurrence.

Can I continue playing sports with tennis elbow?

It’s best to rest from activities that worsen your symptoms. Once pain improves, a physiotherapist can guide your return to sport safely.