You might associate tennis elbow with hitting backhands on the court, but you do not need to play tennis to develop it. Repeated gripping, lifting, typing, gardening, manual work and recreational sport can all place increased demand on the tissues around the outside of the elbow.
Understanding what may contribute to tennis elbow and how to manage the load placed on the area can help you return to the activities you enjoy.
What is tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylopathy, describes pain around the outside of the elbow, usually where the forearm muscles attach to the bony prominence of the elbow.
Symptoms can include tenderness around the outside of the elbow, discomfort when gripping or lifting and pain that may extend into the forearm. Activities such as opening jars, carrying bags, using tools or lifting weights can sometimes aggravate symptoms.
What can contribute to tennis elbow?
There is rarely one single cause. Tennis elbow can develop when the demands placed on the tissues around the elbow increase faster than the body's ability to adapt.
Factors that may contribute include:
- Repetitive activity: Repeated gripping, lifting or wrist movements can increase the load placed through the forearm.
- Changes in workload: Suddenly increasing training, work or other activities can give the tissues less time to adapt.
- Strength and capacity: The muscles of the forearm help control the wrist and hand during gripping and lifting. Building their capacity can help the elbow tolerate these demands.
- Previous problems: Previous injury or changes elsewhere in the arm can sometimes influence how load is distributed.
Recovery and treatment
Managing tennis elbow usually involves finding the right balance between reducing aggravating activities and gradually rebuilding the capacity of the affected tissues.
Activity modification: You may not need to completely stop using your arm. Instead, temporarily reducing activities that significantly aggravate your symptoms can help manage the load while you recover.
Osteopathic treatment: Osteopathic care can form part of your recovery. Depending on your assessment, treatment may include soft tissue massage, joint mobilisation and stretching techniques to help reduce discomfort, improve movement and support your return to normal activity.
Strengthening: Gradually strengthening the forearm and grip is an important part of rehabilitation. The amount and intensity should be progressed according to your symptoms and current capacity.
Gradual return to activity: As your symptoms improve, gradually increasing the demands placed on the elbow helps the tissues adapt and prepares you to return to work, training or sport.
Recovery can take time, and repeatedly overloading the area before it has adapted may prolong symptoms.
Can tennis elbow be prevented?
You cannot always prevent tennis elbow, but managing your workload can reduce the likelihood of developing persistent symptoms. When starting a new activity or increasing your training, allow your body time to adapt rather than making large increases in workload too quickly. Regular strength training can also help build capacity in the forearm and upper limb, helping the tissues cope with the demands placed upon them.
It is also worth paying attention to sudden increases in activities involving repetitive gripping or lifting, particularly if your body is not accustomed to them. Making small adjustments to how you train or work, alongside appropriate recovery, can help reduce unnecessary strain on the elbow.
The takeaway
Tennis elbow is a common problem that can affect anyone who regularly loads their forearm and elbow.
Recovery is usually about gradually building the capacity of the tissues while managing the activities that aggravate your symptoms.
Clinic locations
Looking for appointment information? Cameron Hayward Osteopathy offers appointments at The Cedars Practice in Caterham and with Newhill Osteopathy in Horley.
Find clinic details, directions and contact options for osteopathy in Caterham or osteopathy in Horley.