Tennis & Golfer's Elbow: Resolving Chronic Elbow Pain

Despite the common names, you don't have to play tennis or golf to develop these conditions. Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylalgia) involves the tendons on the outside of the elbow, while Golfer's Elbow (Medial Epicondylalgia) affects the inside.

Modern clinical research has shown that these are rarely "inflammatory" issues (like tendonitis). Instead, they are usually tendinopathies—a state where the tendon's collagen has begun to break down due to repetitive strain or "over-loading." Because the blood supply to these tendons is naturally poor, they often struggle to heal on their own.

• Point Tenderness: Sharp pain directly on the bony "knob" on the inside or outside of your elbow.

• Grip Weakness: Difficulty opening jars, turning doorknobs, or holding a coffee mug without pain.

• Morning Stiffness: A dull ache and stiffness in the forearm that is most noticeable first thing in the morning.

• Radiating Forearm Pain: An ache that travels down toward the wrist, often mistaken for a wrist strain.

• Visible Deformity: If the elbow looks "out of place" following a fall or sudden "pop."

• Inability to Bend the Arm: A mechanical block or intense pain when trying to fully flex or extend the elbow.

• Numbness in the Hand: Constant tingling in the "pinky" side or "thumb" side of the hand (potential Ulnar or Radial nerve compression).

• Night Pain that Prevents Sleep: Pain that does not resolve with rest and keeps you awake.

At Dynamic, we have extensive experience treating "stubborn" elbow pain that hasn't responded to traditional rest or bracing:

• Shockwave Therapy: This is our gold-standard treatment for chronic elbow pain. By sending acoustic sound waves into the tendon, we trigger "micro-trauma" that restarts the healing process and increases local blood flow to repair the collagen.

• Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS): We use precision dry needling to release the tight forearm muscles (extensors or flexors) that are constantly "tugging" on the elbow attachment point.

• Manual Therapy: Targeted joint mobilizations to ensure the "radial head" (the bone that rotates in your elbow) is moving correctly.

• Load Management & Bracing: We teach you how to modify your desk setup or lifting technique and help you determine if a "counterforce brace" is appropriate for your recovery.

• The Relief Position (Wrist Extension/Flexion Stretch): For Tennis Elbow, gently pull your hand down (palm toward you). For Golfer's Elbow, pull the hand back (palm away). Hold for 30 seconds to reduce muscle tension.
• The Mobility Drill (Forearm Rotations): While holding a light hammer or a water bottle, slowly rotate your palm up and down. This encourages the tendons to glide smoothly.
• The Stability Focus (Isometric Loading): Place your hand flat on a table. Gently press down (or pull up) without actually moving the wrist. This "isometric" hold is a powerful way to reduce tendon pain and begin rebuilding strength.

Please Note: The movements above are generic starting points intended for education. To ensure your recovery is safe and efficient, your physiotherapist will create a customized elbow physiotherapy program based on your specific assessment findings. We will guide your progression, adjusting the intensity and "dosage" of your exercises as your mobility and strength improve.