Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow refers to pain located on the outside of the elbow joint. It is one of the most widely known and talked about conditions amongst the general public. Originally it was associated with tennis players and was classified as an overuse condition which caused inflammation within the surrounding muscle tendon tissue.

The latest research suggests that the pain experienced is not of an inflammatory nature, and is more likely due to joint maltracking or referred pain from the neck. Quite often the tendons surrounding the elbow joint have become weak due to either of these dysfunctions.

Tennis elbow cured in one session, how?

Quite often tennis elbow symptoms can be dramatically reduced or even diminished in one session with the correct treatment despite symptoms being present for many months.

Symptoms of tennis elbow:

- Pain with gripping
- Pain with movement
- Tenderness on the outside of the elbow
- Pins and needles
- Muscle weakness

The key to successful treatment is understanding what is the underlying factor that has led to the injury. In the clinic, careful assessment can determine whether the elbow joint is maltracking or whether the neck is referring pain to the area.

Once the cause has been identified treatment is as follows:

Elbow joint maltracking - mobilisation of the elbow joint. This is a very gentle technique designed to allow the joint to function correctly. Much of the research surrounding this technique has been conducted in New Zealand with fantastic results.

Maltracking is very common in the lower back, neck, elbow, knee and ankle. It must be made clear that joint maltracking does not mean that a "joint is out", it simply means that the movement is not a fluent as it should be. It is very common for people to be told after they have been assessed that their joints are "out", and as a result, require aggressive manipulation techniques to correct the problem. This is incorrect. Joint mobilisation techniques for tennis elbow involve gentle pressure to the inside of the joint whilst asking the patient to contract. Very often if the technique is accurately performed, pain will diminish.

Referred pain from the neck - mobilisation of the neck joint. As mentioned above, once the underlying cause has been established, treatment should be focused on correcting it. The neck usually refers pain to the elbow by compression or irritation of a nerve (click here for moe information regarding trapped nerves). Gentle mobilisation of the neck joint will often dramatically reduce pain at the elbow.

Further treatment

Once the underlying cause has been dealt with, treatment should focus on an advanced strengthening program which will help re-educate the surroundnig muscles. This will reduce the likelihood of re-injury.

To receive the best treatment for your discomfort arrange an appointment today or if you have any questions please feel free to email