Condition
Tennis Elbow & Golfer's Elbow in Currambine
Most people with tennis elbow have never played tennis. Both of these are tendon problems at the elbow — outside for tennis elbow, inside for golfer's elbow — and both are usually about how much gripping and loading the forearm has been asked to absorb rather than about the elbow itself.
Can a chiropractor treat tennis elbow?
Yes. Lateral elbow tendinopathy, commonly called tennis elbow, is a musculoskeletal presentation managed with load modification, progressive strengthening and hands-on treatment. Assessment at Northern Beaches Chiropractic in Currambine also checks the neck, shoulder and grip, because elbow tendon pain frequently has a contributor further up the arm.
What commonly contributes to it
People commonly visit us for assessment and management of tennis & golfer's elbow. These are the factors that turn up most often — your own picture is worked out in the assessment.
- A jump in gripping volume — a renovation, a new job, a heavier training block
- Racquet and club sports, though far less often than the names suggest
- Trades and repetitive tool use, particularly anything with vibration
- Long hours on a mouse or keyboard with the forearm unsupported
- Returning to something after a break and picking up where you left off
Tendinopathy is a capacity problem
Tendons adapt to load, but slowly. Elbow tendon pain generally appears when demand rises faster than the tendon can keep up — not because something tore, and not because of inflammation in the way the “-itis” suffix implies.
That is why complete rest so often disappoints. It reduces symptoms while you are resting and reduces capacity at the same time, so the pain comes back the moment you pick the tools up again.
The elbow is often not where it starts
Grip strength draws on the shoulder and the neck as well as the forearm. A shoulder that fatigues early, or a neck contributing to arm symptoms, changes how much work the forearm is left to do.
Assessment covers the whole arm and the neck rather than only the sore point, because treating the elbow in isolation tends to buy short-lived relief.
What management looks like
The core of it is a progressive loading programme for the wrist extensors or flexors, run consistently. Hands-on treatment, dry needling and load advice are there to make that programme tolerable, not to replace it.
Elbow tendinopathy is typically slow. Improvement is measured across weeks to months, and the strength work carries on past the point where the pain stops.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between tennis elbow and golfer's elbow?
Position. Tennis elbow affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow, which extend the wrist. Golfer's elbow affects the tendons on the inside, which flex it. The underlying problem and the management are broadly the same.
Do I need a brace or a strap?
Counterforce straps help some people get through a work day and there is no harm in using one for relief. They do not change the tendon, so they work best alongside a loading programme rather than instead of one.
How long does tennis elbow take to get better?
It varies widely and it is generally slower than people expect — often several months. Presentations picked up early and loaded properly tend to do better than ones that have been rested for a year.
Should I stop playing, or stop working?
Rarely entirely. Reducing the aggravating volume while continuing what the elbow tolerates usually beats stopping. For trades, where stopping is not realistic, management gets built around what you actually have to do each day.
Will a cortisone injection fix it?
Injections often give good short-term relief, but the longer-term results for elbow tendinopathy are less favourable than exercise-based management, and some trials have found worse outcomes at twelve months. It is a decision worth taking with your GP, and it is not a substitute for rebuilding the tendon's capacity.
Related pages
Last reviewed by Dr Corey Williams, Chiropractor. This page is general information, not individual health advice.
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