Tennis Elbow Treatment: Exercise, Braces and Other Options
Updated: Oct 19
Pain on the outside of the elbow can make a coffee mug, screwdriver or tennis racket uncomfortable to hold. Tennis elbow, also called lateral epicondylitis, is one possible explanation. An assessment matters because nerve irritation, arthritis and other injuries can produce similar symptoms.
Start with a manageable load
Repeated gripping and wrist extension can overload the tendon where the forearm muscles attach near the elbow. The goal is usually to modify painful tasks while maintaining comfortable activity, rather than stop using the arm indefinitely.
Try lighter loads, fewer repetitions or a different grip. Review tools and sports equipment that require a sustained squeeze. A wrapped cold pack may help short-term discomfort; protect the skin and avoid cold over areas with reduced sensation. Ask a clinician or pharmacist whether pain medicines are appropriate for your health and other medications.
Build capacity with exercise
A rehabilitation program often includes gradual wrist and forearm strengthening. The starting resistance, repetitions and progression should fit current symptoms and function. A physical therapist or other qualified clinician can help distinguish acceptable exercise discomfort from a flare that needs a change in load.
What progress can look like
Useful milestones include carrying groceries more comfortably, tolerating a work task or returning to controlled racket practice. Recovery can take months. A brief reduction in pain after treatment does not prove that the tendon is ready for unrestricted activity.
Where braces and hands-on care fit
A counterforce strap or wrist support may reduce discomfort during selected activities. It should fit comfortably without numbness or swelling. Manual therapy may provide temporary symptom relief, but exercise and practical load changes remain important parts of a longer-term plan.
Ask careful questions about injections and devices
Corticosteroid injections can ease symptoms in the short term, but repeated use can weaken tendon tissue and is not a dependable long-term solution. Discuss likely benefits, recurrence and procedure-specific risks with the clinician offering the injection.
Evidence for platelet-rich plasma, shockwave therapy, laser and other devices varies by treatment and study. They should not be presented as proven tendon repair or a guaranteed shortcut. Ask about the evidence for your condition, total cost, alternatives and the point at which an unsuccessful treatment would stop.
When is surgery considered?
Most people are managed without surgery. A specialist may discuss surgery when substantial symptoms persist despite an adequate nonsurgical program and the diagnosis is clear. It is not simply the next step after one unsuccessful exercise or injection.
When elbow pain needs prompt attention
Seek urgent care after a significant injury, for deformity, inability to use the arm, or a hot swollen joint with fever. Persistent hand numbness, progressive weakness or dropping objects warrants timely assessment because a nerve problem may need different care.
Plan your next step in Columbus
Bring a list of the tasks that hurt and what you have already tried. Contact Restore Family Chiropractic or call (614) 505-0900 to ask about an assessment and whether referral is appropriate. The office is at 175 E Campus View Blvd, Columbus, OH 43235.
Sources
AAOS: Tennis elbow and AAOS: Therapeutic exercise program. Exercise examples are not a substitute for an individual diagnosis.
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