Tennis elbow is inflammation of the tendons connecting your forearm muscles to the outside of your elbow, causing pain that worsens when gripping, lifting, or twisting your wrist. At Hometown Family Wellness Center in Freehold, we treat tennis elbow using elbow and wrist adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and corrective exercises that address the root cause rather than just reducing inflammation temporarily. Most patients experience significant relief within 4-6 weeks without injections or prolonged bracing.
What Tennis Elbow Really Is
Despite the name, you don’t have to play tennis to develop tennis elbow. The medical term is lateral epicondylitis.
The tendons on the outside of your elbow attach your forearm extensor muscles to the bone. These muscles straighten your wrist and fingers and rotate your forearm.
Repetitive gripping, twisting, or lifting movements create tiny tears in these tendons. Over time, the damage accumulates faster than your body can repair it, and inflammation sets in.
The result? Pain on the outside of your elbow that radiates down your forearm. Gripping objects, shaking hands, turning doorknobs, or lifting anything becomes painful.
Common Causes of Tennis Elbow
Repetitive Computer Work
Hours of typing and mouse use strain your forearm extensors. Poor ergonomics compound the problem. Many office workers in Freehold develop tennis elbow from desk work, not sports. Learn more about desk job injuries.
Manual Labor
Carpenters, plumbers, painters, and mechanics repeatedly grip tools and twist their wrists. These occupations have high tennis elbow rates.
Racquet Sports
Tennis, squash, and racquetball players develop tennis elbow from improper technique or equipment. Poor backhand form especially stresses the lateral epicondyle.
Age-Related Degeneration
Tennis elbow is most common between ages 30-50. Tendons lose elasticity with age, making them more vulnerable to overuse injuries.
Poor Technique
Whether typing, using tools, or playing sports, improper technique places abnormal stress on elbow tendons.
Inadequate Rest and Recovery
Continuing activities without allowing tendons to heal perpetuates the injury cycle.
Why Your Elbow Pain Might Start in Your Neck
Many tennis elbow cases have a neck component that gets overlooked. Cervical nerve roots control your forearm muscles.
When these nerve roots are compressed by disc problems or spinal misalignments, the muscles they control don’t function properly. Weak or dysfunctional muscles alter mechanics and increase stress on elbow tendons.
This is why some tennis elbow cases don’t respond to local elbow treatment alone. The primary problem is in the neck, not the elbow.
We always evaluate your cervical spine when treating tennis elbow. Addressing both areas produces better, faster results.
How We Diagnose Tennis Elbow
Proper diagnosis ensures we’re treating the right condition. Several problems cause lateral elbow pain.
We perform specific tests like the Cozen’s test and Mill’s test that reproduce tennis elbow pain. We check your grip strength and test forearm muscle function.
We evaluate your cervical spine for nerve involvement. We assess your wrist and shoulder mechanics since problems in these areas contribute to elbow stress.
We discuss your work activities and hobbies to identify repetitive movements causing your symptoms.
In some cases, we may recommend imaging to rule out other conditions like arthritis or bone spurs.
Chiropractic Treatment for Tennis Elbow
Our comprehensive approach addresses all factors contributing to your tennis elbow, not just the inflamed tendons.
Elbow Joint Adjustments
We use gentle adjustments to restore proper alignment to your elbow joint. When the joint moves correctly, stress on the lateral epicondyle decreases.
We also adjust your wrist and forearm bones. Proper alignment throughout your arm reduces strain on elbow tendons.
Cervical Spine Correction
We correct neck misalignments that may be contributing to muscle dysfunction. Proper nerve flow from your neck ensures your forearm muscles work efficiently.
Soft Tissue Therapy
We work directly on the inflamed tendons and tight forearm muscles. Specific techniques break up scar tissue, improve blood flow, and promote healing.
Releasing tension in your forearm extensors reduces pull on the damaged tendons, allowing them to recover.
Graston Technique
This instrument-assisted soft tissue technique is particularly effective for tennis elbow. It breaks down scar tissue and stimulates healing at the cellular level.
Therapeutic Exercises
We teach you specific exercises that strengthen your forearm in the correct patterns. Eccentric exercises, where you slowly lower weight, are especially beneficial for tendon healing.
We also provide stretches that maintain flexibility and prevent re-injury.
Ergonomic Modifications
We identify daily activities stressing your elbow and teach modifications to protect healing tendons. Small changes in how you work, type, or play sports make huge differences.
Why Cortisone Injections Aren’t the Answer
Many doctors recommend cortisone injections for tennis elbow. While injections can provide temporary relief, they have significant downsides.
Cortisone weakens tendons with repeated use, increasing rupture risk. It masks pain without addressing the mechanical problems causing your tennis elbow. Relief is temporary, with symptoms often returning within months.
Research shows that patients who receive cortisone injections often have worse long-term outcomes than those treated conservatively.
Chiropractic care addresses the root cause and promotes actual healing rather than just suppressing inflammation temporarily.
Tennis Elbow Braces and Straps
Counterforce braces worn just below your elbow can provide temporary relief by changing where stress concentrates on your tendons.
These braces help during the healing process by reducing strain on damaged tissues. However, they’re a supportive measure, not a cure.
Long-term brace dependence isn’t the goal. We use braces as a tool during treatment while we correct the underlying problems causing your tennis elbow.
Recovery Timeline for Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow recovery varies based on severity and how long you’ve had symptoms.
Week 1-2: Initial Phase
We focus on reducing acute inflammation and pain. You’ll learn activity modifications to protect healing tendons. Some improvement typically occurs within the first week.
Week 3-4: Progressive Improvement
Pain decreases in intensity and frequency. Grip strength begins improving. We progress your therapeutic exercises as tolerance allows.
Week 5-8: Restoration Phase
Most patients return to normal activities during this period. We continue strengthening exercises and address any remaining biomechanical issues.
Week 9-12: Maintenance
By this point, most tennis elbow cases have resolved. We focus on preventing recurrence through proper technique and ongoing exercises.
Chronic cases that have been present for months may take longer to fully resolve.
Preventing Tennis Elbow from Returning
Once your tennis elbow heals, keeping it away requires attention to the activities that caused it.
Maintain proper ergonomics during computer work and manual tasks. Take frequent breaks from repetitive gripping or twisting activities. Keep your forearm muscles flexible through regular stretching.
Strengthen your forearm and grip regularly. Use proper technique in sports and work activities. Warm up before activities that stress your elbows.
Address minor elbow discomfort promptly before it becomes full-blown tennis elbow.
Tennis Elbow in Athletes
Tennis players and other racquet sport athletes need sport-specific care for tennis elbow.
We evaluate your technique to identify mechanical flaws increasing elbow stress. Poor backhand technique is the most common culprit in tennis players.
We assess your equipment. Incorrect racquet grip size, string tension, or racquet weight all contribute to tennis elbow. Our sports performance care helps athletes return to competition safely.
We work on strengthening your entire kinetic chain. Problems in your legs, core, or shoulder often force your elbow to compensate.
Office Workers and Tennis Elbow
More office workers develop tennis elbow than tennis players. Hours of typing and mouse use create perfect conditions for this overuse injury.
Common ergonomic problems include mouse positioned too far away, keyboard too high or too low, wrist rest that forces extension, and poor chair height.
We evaluate your workspace and provide specific modifications. Often, simple changes produce dramatic improvements.
Switching to an ergonomic mouse or vertical mouse reduces forearm strain. Keyboard positioning that keeps wrists neutral prevents excessive extension. Regular breaks allow tendons to recover.
When Surgery Becomes Necessary
The vast majority of tennis elbow cases resolve with conservative treatment. Surgery should only be considered after 6-12 months of consistent conservative care fails to produce improvement.
Surgical options include removing damaged tendon tissue, releasing the tendon, or repairing tears. Recovery takes months and doesn’t guarantee return to full function.
If we determine surgery might be necessary, we’ll refer you to a qualified orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine specialist.
Golfer’s Elbow vs Tennis Elbow
Golfer’s elbow is tennis elbow’s cousin. It affects the inside of your elbow rather than the outside.
The mechanics are similar, but different muscles and tendons are involved. Golfer’s elbow affects your wrist flexors rather than extensors.
Our treatment approach for both conditions is similar, adjusted for the specific anatomy involved. Many people develop both conditions simultaneously.
Real Results from Freehold Patients
Over my 27 years treating patients in Freehold, I’ve helped countless people overcome tennis elbow. Office workers return to pain-free typing. Tradesmen get back to work without constant elbow pain. Tennis players return to the court with proper technique.
The key is addressing all contributing factors rather than just treating local inflammation. When we correct your mechanics, strengthen weak areas, and optimize your ergonomics, tennis elbow heals naturally.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does tennis elbow take to heal?
Most cases improve significantly within 4-6 weeks of starting treatment. Complete resolution typically takes 8-12 weeks. Chronic tennis elbow that’s been present for many months may require longer treatment. Your timeline depends on severity, how long you’ve had symptoms, and your body’s healing response.
Can I continue working with tennis elbow?
Usually yes, with modifications. We provide specific guidance on activity changes that allow you to continue work while protecting healing tendons. Complete rest is rarely necessary and can actually slow recovery by allowing muscles to weaken.
Will tennis elbow come back after treatment?
Tennis elbow can return if you resume the same activities that caused it without proper ergonomics or technique. Maintaining good mechanics, taking breaks from repetitive activities, and doing regular forearm exercises prevent recurrence. We teach you everything needed to keep tennis elbow from returning.
Should I ice or heat my tennis elbow?
Ice works better during the first few days when acute inflammation is present. After that, heat often provides better relief by improving blood flow to healing tendons. We’ll guide you on which to use based on your specific situation.
Get Relief from Tennis Elbow Pain
If elbow pain is interfering with your work, sports, or daily activities, let’s identify what’s causing it and fix the problem at its source. Call our Freehold office at (732) 780-0044 or schedule your consultation online. We’ll perform a comprehensive evaluation and create a treatment plan to get you back to pain-free function.
