Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

• Pain and tenderness on the outer side of the elbow

• Pain during gripping, lifting, or wrist extension

• Forearm muscle weakness and difficulty with daily activities

• Stiffness and discomfort at rest or during movement

Goals of Physiotherapy

• Reduce pain and inflammation

• Promote tendon healing and restore flexibility

• Strengthen forearm and wrist muscles

• Safely perform functional activities such as lifting and gripping

Physiotherapy Treatments

1. Pain Relief Techniques

• Ice Therapy: To reduce acute pain and inflammation

• Heat Therapy: To relax muscles and improve circulation (sub-acute stage)

• TENS: For pain modulation and relief

2. Stretching Exercises

• Gentle stretches for wrist extensors and forearm muscles

• Elbow and forearm range of motion exercises

3. Strengthening Exercises

Once pain is controlled:

• Wrist extension and flexion with light weights

• Forearm pronation and supination exercises

• Grip strengthening using putty or hand exercisers

4. Manual Therapy

• Soft tissue mobilization and gentle tendon massage to reduce stiffness and adhesions

5. Ergonomic and Functional Training

• Teach modifications for daily tasks and work to prevent repetitive strain

• Sports-specific training, such as correcting tennis grip and stroke mechanics

Frequency and Duration

• Physiotherapy sessions 2–4 times per week

• Adherence to a home exercise program is essential for tendon healing and pain reduction

• Significant pain relief and functional improvement can be seen within 4–6 weeks