Tennis Elbow: Managing Pain and Returning to Play

Tennis elbow is a common name for pain around the outside of the elbow that can affect players and non-players. It may make gripping, lifting, backhands, or serving uncomfortable.

Common symptoms

Pain may be felt near the outside of the elbow or forearm and can increase with gripping, lifting a racquet, opening a jar, or repeated wrist work. Some people also notice tenderness or reduced grip tolerance.

Contributing factors

A sudden change in playing volume, racquet or grip changes, technique, repeated wrist loading, work demands, and limited strength or endurance may contribute.

How physical therapy may help

An evaluation may consider the elbow, wrist, shoulder, neck, grip demands, and tennis technique. Care may include education, load modification, progressive forearm and shoulder strengthening, and a step-by-step return to hitting.

• Adjust volume before stopping all movement.

• Build tolerance with gradual strengthening.

• Return to serves and high-volume hitting progressively.

A gradual return to sport

Returning to sport is usually a progression, not a single test. A physical therapist may help you build from comfortable daily movement to controlled drills, practice demands, and eventually competition, while considering symptoms, strength, movement quality, workload, and confidence. The pace should be individualized rather than based on a fixed timeline.

When to seek care

Persistent pain, swelling, weakness, repeated injury, loss of motion, or difficulty performing normal sport activities are reasonable reasons to seek an evaluation. Sudden severe pain, deformity, major swelling, numbness, or loss of function should receive prompt medical attention.

If you are dealing with sports-related pain or are planning a return to activity, request an evaluation at Reynoso Rehab Physical Therapy & Sports Performance in Clifton, NJ, call 201-564-0390, or visit the existing Contact / Request Appointment page. Se habla español.