Tennis Elbow? Here Is Why Your Arm Hurts and How to Actually Fix It
Tennis Elbow? Here Is Why Your Arm Hurts and How to Actually Fix It
Tennis elbow does not just affect tennis players. Tradies, gym goers, parents, desk workers and weekend warriors all get it, and most of them tolerate it for far too long. PHYZFIT in Bexley North and Marrickville provides expert assessment and treatment for tennis elbow so you can get back to gripping, lifting and training without that nagging outer elbow pain.
Same day appointments available · No referral needed
What Tennis Elbow Actually Is
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylalgia, is irritation of the common extensor tendon on the outside of your elbow. The tendon attaches the muscles that lift your wrist and fingers to the bony bump on the outer elbow. When those muscles get overloaded with repetitive gripping, lifting or wrist use, the tendon starts to grumble.
Despite the name, only around 5 percent of cases actually come from tennis. Far more come from work, training, computer use and everyday tasks like carrying groceries or lifting kids. The good news is that with the right physiotherapy plan, the vast majority of tennis elbow resolves without injections or surgery.
Common Symptoms
If you are experiencing any of the following, our physios at PHYZFIT can help:
- Pain on the outside of the elbow that started gradually with no obvious injury
- Pain when shaking hands, opening jars or turning door handles
- Weakness in your grip, especially when lifting a kettle or a coffee cup
- Pain when typing, using a mouse or holding a phone for long stretches
- Ache that lingers for hours after a gym session, especially after pulling exercises
- Tenderness right on the bony bump on the outside of the elbow
- Pain that wakes you up if you sleep with your arm in an awkward position
- Stiffness in the elbow first thing in the morning
Common Causes
- Sudden increases in training volume, especially gripping or pulling work
- Repetitive computer use with poor wrist and elbow positioning
- Manual trades involving hammers, drills, painting and constant tool use
- Carrying a baby, toddler or heavy bag on the same arm every day
- Racquet sports with poor technique or a grip that is the wrong size
- Heavy gardening, especially pruning, weeding and lifting pots
- Weak shoulder and rotator cuff muscles forcing the elbow to compensate
- Returning to gripping work too quickly after time off
Sore now? Do not let it become a six month problem.
Book a thorough assessment with a PHYZFIT physiotherapist and walk out with a clear plan, not guesswork.
Book Now Call (02) 8021 0969Same day appointments available · No referral needed
How We Treat Tennis Elbow
At PHYZFIT our physiotherapists take a thorough evidence based approach. Every treatment plan is built around your goals, your work and your training.
Accurate Diagnosis
We confirm the diagnosis with specific tests and rule out the other things that can cause outer elbow pain, like nerve irritation or referred pain from the neck.
Progressive Tendon Loading
The gold standard treatment for tennis elbow is graded loading of the extensor tendon. We build a program that systematically strengthens the tendon so it can tolerate the demands you are putting on it.
Hands On Therapy
Soft tissue release, joint mobilisation and dry needling to settle the painful area quickly so you can start the strengthening work without flaring up.
Shockwave Therapy
For stubborn cases that have not responded to standard treatment, our shockwave therapy can accelerate tendon healing and reduce pain significantly.
Activity and Workload Modification
We coach you on how to adjust your work setup, training and daily activities so the tendon gets the chance to heal rather than getting reloaded every day.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
From the moment you book to the moment you walk out pain free, here is exactly how it goes.
Book in 60 Seconds
Book online or over the phone. Same day appointments available at Bexley North and Marrickville. No referral needed.
Your Initial Assessment
Your physio conducts a thorough assessment of your elbow pain and works with you to understand your goals.
Your Treatment Plan
You leave with a clear treatment plan and timeline so you always know what to expect from each session.
Ongoing Support
We monitor your progress and adjust your plan every step of the way to keep you on track toward your goals.
What You Should Not Do
Most of the popular tennis elbow advice on the internet is exactly wrong. Avoid these traps:
- Resting it completely for weeks on end. Tendons need progressive load to heal, not pure rest.
- Strapping on a tennis elbow brace and ignoring the underlying problem. Braces can help in the short term but they do not fix the tendon.
- Constantly stretching the painful tendon. Aggressive stretching often makes tendon pain worse.
- Pushing through sharp pain in the gym. That is the fastest way to turn a six week problem into a six month problem.
- Jumping to cortisone injections as the first step. Research shows they give short term relief but lead to worse outcomes at 12 months compared to physio.
Do not leave this untreated. Many of our patients tell us they wished they had come in sooner. Tennis elbow that gets brushed off and tolerated for months often becomes a chronic tendinopathy that takes far longer to resolve. People who push through it commonly end up with shoulder, wrist and neck compensations on top of the original elbow problem. Catch it early and most cases resolve in 8 to 12 weeks. Leave it for six months and it can stretch to a year or more.
Stop scrolling. Start moving.
Whether your elbow has been sore for two weeks or two years, our team at PHYZFIT will build you a plan that actually works.
Book Now Call (02) 8021 0969Same day appointments available · No referral needed
When to Book In Immediately
See a physiotherapist or your GP sooner rather than later if you have any of these:
- Numbness, pins and needles or weakness travelling into your hand or fingers
- Sudden severe pain following a fall, twist or contact injury
- Swelling, bruising or visible deformity around the elbow
- Inability to fully straighten or fully bend the elbow
- Persistent night pain that wakes you and will not settle
- Pain that radiates up the arm into the shoulder or down into the hand
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does tennis elbow take to recover?
Most cases resolve within 8 to 12 weeks of focused physiotherapy. Stubborn or longstanding cases can take 3 to 6 months but absolutely improve with the right plan.
Should I get a cortisone injection?
Research shows cortisone gives short term relief but worse outcomes at 12 months compared to physio. We almost always recommend trying a structured loading program first.
Can I keep training at the gym with tennis elbow?
In most cases yes, with modifications. We will guide you on which exercises to keep, which to swap and how to load the tendon safely so you can maintain your fitness while you recover.
Do tennis elbow braces actually work?
Braces can offload the tendon and reduce pain in the short term, but they do not fix the underlying tendon problem. They are useful as part of a wider treatment plan, not on their own.
Do I need a referral to see a physio at PHYZFIT?
No referral is needed. You can book online or over the phone and we will take care of the rest. We are registered with Medicare, all major Private Health funds, NDIS, SIRA, WorkCover and DVA.
Ready to Get Out of Pain?
Same day appointments available at Bexley North and Marrickville. No referral needed. Book in today and let us help you get back to gripping, lifting and training without pain.
Book NowOr call us on (02) 8021 0969
Written by the PHYZFIT Physiotherapy team. Helping you rebuild trust in your body and live a life without limits. Bexley North · Marrickville. This article is general information, not personal medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your individual circumstances.