Tennis Elbow
You don't need to play tennis to get it — you need a plan to beat it.
Overview
Understanding tennis elbow
Tennis elbow is an overload injury of the tendons that extend your wrist, where they anchor at the outer elbow. Despite the name, most cases come from work and daily life — gripping, lifting, keyboards and tools — and it's the most common cause of adult elbow pain.
The natural history is favorable: the great majority of cases resolve without surgery. The catch is time and method — tendon recovers through progressive loading over months, not through rest and hope.
Symptoms
What it feels like
- Pain and tenderness at the bony point of the outer elbow
- Pain with gripping — coffee cups, handshakes, doorknobs
- Weak grip strength
- Ache radiating down the forearm after use
Common causes
Why it happens
- Repetitive gripping and wrist extension at work or in sport
- Sudden increases in racquet sports, lifting, or manual work
- Age-related tendon changes concentrated in the 35–55 window
Diagnosis
How it's diagnosed
A focused exam makes the diagnosis — localized tenderness plus pain with resisted wrist extension. Imaging is reserved for atypical or stubborn cases, where ultrasound or MRI grades the tendon and excludes look-alikes such as nerve entrapment or joint pathology.
Treatment
The full range of options
Non-surgical
Progressive tendon loading
Eccentric and isometric strengthening programs are the backbone of care — remodeling the tendon over 8–12 weeks with strong evidence behind them.
Counterforce bracing & ergonomics
A forearm strap plus grip and workstation adjustments offload the tendon while it rebuilds.
Injection therapy — used thoughtfully
Corticosteroid helps short-term but can worsen long-term outcomes, so it's used sparingly; orthobiologic options may be discussed for persistent cases.
Surgical
Tendon debridement
For the minority whose symptoms persist beyond 6–12 months of genuine care, removing the degenerated tendon segment — open or arthroscopic — offers reliable relief.
Recovery
The road back
Most patients improve meaningfully within three months of a real loading program, with full resolution over 6–12 months. After surgical debridement, grip strengthening begins within weeks and full return typically lands around three to four months.
Dr. Johnson's approach
Dr. Johnson treats tennis elbow with the boring truth that works: an accurate diagnosis, a structured loading program, honest guidance about injections — and surgery reserved for the small group whose tendon truly won't remodel.
Straight answers
Frequently Asked Questions
The information on this site is for education only and is not a medical diagnosis or a substitute for professional medical advice. Every patient is different — please consult Dr. Johnson or a qualified provider about your specific condition.
Ready when you are
Take the first step past tennis elbow
A focused evaluation, an honest conversation, and a plan built for your goals.