Reclaim Mobility and Strength: Physiotherapy for Tennis Elbow Explained

Tennis elbow is a condition that extends far beyond the tennis court, affecting anyone who engages in repetitive arm movements. Left untreated, tennis elbow can worsen, impacting your ability to use your arm comfortably. Fortunately, physiotherapy offers a non-invasive solution for tennis elbow, providing pain relief, promoting healing, and restoring function, so you can return to your daily activities with confidence.

Understanding Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a painful condition that occurs when the tendons in the elbow are overloaded, usually due to repetitive motions of the wrist and arm. Despite its name, tennis elbow doesn’t just affect tennis players; it can impact anyone who engages in activities that involve repetitive arm movements, such as painting, carpentry, or even typing. 

The condition is characterized by pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow, which can radiate into the forearm and wrist. This pain often worsens with activity, making it difficult to perform everyday tasks like gripping objects, lifting items, or shaking hands. 

Tennis elbow is typically caused by inflammation or tiny tears in the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle, the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow. If left untreated, tennis elbow can become a chronic issue, significantly impacting your ability to use your arm comfortably. 

How Physiotherapy Helps Treat Tennis Elbow

Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the treatment of tennis elbow by addressing the root causes of the condition and promoting long-term recovery. Here’s how physiotherapy can help:

• Pain Relief: One of the primary goals of physiotherapy is to alleviate the pain associated with tennis elbow. Physiotherapists use a combination of manual therapies, modalities like laser therapy, and exercises to reduce inflammation and relieve pain in the affected area. This helps improve the individual’s comfort and allows them to engage in daily activities with less discomfort.
• Improving Flexibility and Strength: Physiotherapy focuses on restoring the flexibility and strength of the muscles and tendons around the elbow. Strengthening exercises are designed to target the forearm muscles, improving their ability to support the elbow and reducing the strain on the tendons. Flexibility exercises help to improve the range of motion in the wrist and elbow, which can be limited by tennis elbow.
• Promoting Healing: By improving blood flow and reducing tension in the muscles and tendons, physiotherapy helps to accelerate the body’s natural healing processes. Techniques like muscle release and joint manipulations enhance circulation and tissue health, which are essential for recovery.
• Preventing Recurrence: Physiotherapy not only treats the current symptoms of tennis elbow but also helps prevent future occurrences. Physiotherapists provide education on proper techniques, posture, and ergonomics to avoid the repetitive motions that can lead to tendon overuse. They also guide clients in modifying activities to prevent further strain on the elbow.
• Personalized Treatment Plans: Physiotherapy offers a tailored approach to treatment, with each plan customized to the individual’s specific needs, lifestyle, and severity of the condition. This ensures that the treatment is as effective as possible and that the client is actively involved in their recovery.

Through these approaches, physiotherapy provides comprehensive care that addresses both the symptoms and the underlying causes of tennis elbow, helping people achieve long-lasting relief and improved function.

Physiotherapy Techniques Used for Tennis Elbow

Several physiotherapy techniques are effective in treating tennis elbow, each targeting different aspects of the condition to provide relief and restore function. Here are some of the most commonly used techniques:

• Joint Manipulations: Joint manipulations involve the gentle, controlled movement of the elbow and wrist joints to improve their alignment and mobility. These manipulations help to relieve pressure on the affected tendons and improve the range of motion in the arm. By restoring proper joint function, joint manipulations can reduce pain and enhance overall arm function.
• Intramuscular Stimulation (IMS): Intramuscular Stimulation is a technique that uses fine needles to target and release tight muscles and trigger points in the forearm and elbow. By addressing muscle tightness and imbalances, IMS helps to alleviate tension in the tissues surrounding the elbow, reducing pressure on the tendons. This technique is particularly useful for people who experience muscle spasms or chronic tension as part of their tennis elbow.
• Muscle Release Techniques: Muscle release techniques involve hands-on therapy to stretch and relax the muscles and tendons in the forearm and elbow. These techniques help to reduce muscle tightness and improve blood flow to the affected area, promoting healing and reducing inflammation. By relieving tension in the muscles and tendons, muscle release techniques can decrease the pressure on the tendons and alleviate symptoms.
• Laser Therapy: Laser therapy uses focused light energy to penetrate deep into the tissues and promote healing at the cellular level. This non-invasive treatment helps to reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and stimulate tissue repair. Laser therapy is particularly effective in reducing pain and swelling associated with tennis elbow, and it can enhance the overall effectiveness of other physiotherapy treatments.

These techniques are often combined in a comprehensive physiotherapy plan to provide the most effective relief from tennis elbow pain.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Tennis Elbow?

The recovery time for tennis elbow with physiotherapy can vary depending on several factors, including the severity of the condition, how long the symptoms have been present, and the individual’s overall health. 

For most people, consistent physiotherapy can lead to noticeable improvements within 6 to 8 weeks. In cases of mild to moderate tennis elbow, pain relief and functional improvements may be achieved relatively quickly, with significant progress seen within this time frame. However, for more severe or chronic cases, recovery may take longer, sometimes requiring several months of ongoing treatment and home exercises. 

It’s important to note that recovery is a gradual process, and maintaining a regular physiotherapy routine, combined with prescribed exercises, is key to achieving lasting results. Even after symptoms have subsided, continued adherence to preventive measures, such as proper ergonomics and strength training, is crucial to prevent recurrence.

Complementing Physiotherapy With At-Home Exercises 

There are several exercises that you can do at home to complement your physiotherapy treatment for tennis elbow. These exercises help maintain flexibility, strengthen the muscles around the elbow, and promote healing. Here are some recommended exercises:

• Wrist Flexor Stretch: Extend your arm with your palm facing up and gently pull your fingers back with the opposite hand until you feel a stretch in the underside of your forearm. Hold for 20-30 seconds and repeat on the other side.
• Wrist Extensor Stretch: Extend your arm with your palm facing down and gently pull your fingers back with the opposite hand until you feel a stretch along the top of your forearm. Hold for 20-30 seconds and repeat on the other side.
• Grip Strengthening Exercise: Squeeze a soft ball or hand exerciser as hard as you can without causing pain. Hold for a few seconds and release. Repeat 10-15 times to strengthen the forearm muscles.
• Eccentric Wrist Extension: Hold a light weight (or a can) in your hand with your palm facing down. Slowly lower the weight while extending your wrist, then return to the starting position. Repeat 10-15 times for each arm.
• Finger Stretch: Start with your hand in a fist, then slowly open your fingers as wide as possible, stretching them out. Hold for a few seconds and then return to the fist position. Repeat 10-15 times to improve finger and hand flexibility.

Perform these exercises regularly as recommended by your physiotherapist to enhance your recovery from tennis elbow and prevent future issues.

Pain Relief and Improved Mobility

Tennis elbow can be a painful and limiting condition, but with the right approach, relief is within reach. Physiotherapy offers a range of effective treatments that address the root causes of tennis elbow, providing pain relief, improving arm function, and preventing future flare-ups. 

If you’re struggling with tennis elbow and seeking a personalized treatment plan, Country Hills Physiotherapy in Calgary NW is here to help. Our experienced physiotherapists provide care tailored to your needs, ensuring you receive the most effective treatment for your condition. Contact us today to schedule your visit and start your journey to recovery.