Tennis Elbow Treatment in Surrey Hills, Melbourne

People across Melbourne's eastern suburbs can see a physio for tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) at Eastside Physio + Co in Surrey Hills. The main part of treatment is a series of exercises that become more challenging as the tendon gets stronger. The physio may also use hands-on treatment or a brace to help with pain. Shockwave therapy and MLS laser are available if they're suitable for the person's condition. There's no need for a GP referral to book.

 

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Tennis elbow symptoms

 

Tennis elbow doesn't always hurt when the arm is resting. The pain often comes on when the forearm muscles have to work, especially during gripping, lifting or straightening the wrist against resistance. It's usually felt over the bony area on the outside of the elbow. Grip strength can drop as well, making some everyday jobs harder. Other symptoms include:

 

• Lifting a kettle or full cup with the palm facing down

• Using a mouse, screwdriver, paintbrush or tennis racquet

• Finding it harder to grip or hold objects

• Feeling tenderness over the bony point on the outside of the elbow

• Waking with stiffness around the elbow

 

Pain on the inside of the elbow is more typical of golfer’s elbow. If there's numbness, tingling, swelling after a fall or locking of the joint, the physio will consider other causes of elbow pain. Sometimes the elbow itself isn't the source of the symptoms. Pain referred from the neck can be felt in this area, so the assessment includes a check of the neck as well.

 

What causes tennis elbow?

 

The common extensor tendon connects the forearm muscles to the bony point on the outer elbow, known as the lateral epicondyle. When gripping or straightening the wrist puts more strain on this tendon than it can handle, tennis elbow can develop. Despite the name, it's more often linked to repetitive work than playing tennis.

 

Activities that can contribute include:

 

• Playing racquet sports

• Using a mouse for long periods at work

• Painting for hours with a brush or roller

• Carpentry and other trades involving hand tools

• Suddenly increasing gym training or taking on a physically demanding job

 

According to Healthdirect, around 2 in 100 people aged 30 to 65 develop tennis elbow. Physios may also call the condition lateral epicondylalgia.

 

How our physios assess tennis elbow

 

The physio starts by asking about the elbow pain, including when it began and what seems to aggravate it. They'll then test the tendon and check whether the pain could be coming from somewhere else.

 

The physio will check:

 

• How well the elbow and wrist move

• Grip strength in each hand

• Whether loading the forearm muscles brings on pain

• Whether the neck or shoulder could be causing the symptoms

• How work tasks, gym training or racquet use might be affecting the elbow

 

Scans aren't part of every tennis elbow assessment. The physio will usually be able to examine the tendon without an X-ray or MRI, although they may suggest one if the symptoms raise concerns about a fracture or joint instability, or don't seem to be coming from the tendon at all.

 

Previous scans can be useful, so patients are welcome to bring them along. They can also book directly with the clinic without seeing a GP first.

 

Tennis elbow treatment at Eastside Physio + Co

 

The first step in tennis elbow treatment is working out what the tendon can currently handle. The physio uses the assessment findings to choose a starting point for exercises and decide whether anything else might help with the pain. The plan is reviewed as the elbow responds to treatment.

 

Load management at work, the gym and sport

 

The physio will usually look at what can be changed at work or in training before suggesting a break from activity. For someone using hand tools all day, that might mean choosing lighter equipment. Desk workers may need to adjust their mouse and keyboard position, while gym-goers could reduce the weight or change exercises that involve a lot of gripping. Even turning the palm upwards when lifting can help reduce strain. Resting the arm may ease the soreness, but the pain can return when those activities start again if the tendon hasn't regained its strength.

 

Progressive tendon loading exercises

 

Early tennis elbow treatment may involve holding the wrist steady while the forearm muscles push against resistance. These are called isometric exercises. The tendon is still doing some work, but there's no repeated wrist movement to aggravate it. The physio can use these holds to help manage pain before moving on to heavier strengthening exercises.

 

Later, the exercises become heavier, with more work for the wrist and grip. Someone returning to carpentry may need a different program from a person getting back to tennis. The physio provides exercises to do at home and checks how they're going at each appointment, making changes as strength improves. There's more about this process in our approach to tendon injuries.

 

Hands-on treatment

 

Manual therapy can ease pain and improve how the elbow and wrist joints move. Our physios use hands-on techniques as support for the exercise plan. With less pain, the loading exercises are easier to get through.

 

Bracing and taping

 

A counterforce brace or taping may make gripping and lifting more comfortable for a while. The physio can advise whether either is suitable. They're used for short-term support, with the strengthening exercises remaining the main part of treatment.

 

Shockwave therapy for stubborn tennis elbow

 

For tennis elbow that hasn't improved enough with exercises, the physio may discuss shockwave therapy (ESWT). It's used alongside the strengthening program rather than instead of it, and research into how well it works for tennis elbow has had mixed results.

 

The shockwave part of the appointment takes about 5 to 10 minutes. A course usually involves 3 to 6 sessions, with 3 to 10 days between visits. There are some reasons it may not be suitable, including pregnancy, taking blood thinners, having a pacemaker or receiving a cortisone injection in the area within the past 12 weeks. More information, including the full list of precautions, is available on our shockwave therapy page.

 

MLS laser therapy

 

The clinic also offers MLS laser therapy for conditions including tennis elbow. The physio will assess whether it's suitable and, if used, include it alongside the tendon-strengthening exercises rather than as a replacement for them.

 

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Keeping work, training and sport going with tennis elbow

 

With tennis elbow, it's often the amount of gripping that needs to change, not the whole day's routine. At work, that could mean putting a tool down more often. In the gym, it might be a lighter dumbbell or turning the hand so the palm faces up when lifting. The physio will also ask how the elbow feels later that day and the following morning. Some pain during activity is acceptable if it stays mild and settles by the next day.

 

There's no need to rush back to the old weights or a full tennis session. The amount of work can increase as the elbow tolerates it, with the strengthening exercises continuing even after everyday movements stop hurting.

 

According to Healthdirect, tennis elbow commonly takes 6 to 12 months to recover. The physio can give a more personal estimate after examining the elbow.

 

Call (03) 9836 1333 to discuss work or training demands before booking.

 

Book tennis elbow treatment in Surrey Hills

 

Our physios see people with tennis elbow from across Melbourne's east at Eastside Physio + Co, 427 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills VIC 3127. As well as Surrey Hills locals, patients travel from Camberwell, Canterbury, Box Hill and Blackburn, and from suburbs further out such as Doncaster and Burwood. The clinic also welcomes patients from Hawthorn, Balwyn, Ashburton, Ashwood and Auburn.

 

There's no need to see a GP before booking. The clinic has HICAPS for on-the-spot private health claims with all major insurers and also welcomes WorkCover and TAC patients. Just let reception know about a WorkCover or TAC claim when making the appointment.

 

Parking is available in three bays at the front of the clinic and two at the rear, with street parking along Canterbury Road as well. The new patient information page explains what to bring along to the first appointment.

 

Book an Assessment | Call (03) 9836 1333

 

Tennis elbow FAQs

 

Is golfer’s elbow the same as tennis elbow?

 

Both involve irritated tendons, but the pain is in a different place. Golfer’s elbow affects the inside of the elbow, where the muscles used for bending the wrist and gripping attach. There's more about this on our elbow pain page.

 

Should tennis elbow be iced or heated?

 

An ice pack may ease soreness for a short time. Heat can also feel comfortable, although neither will help the tendon regain strength.

 

Is a cortisone injection a good idea for tennis elbow?

 

Healthdirect advises that cortisone injections don't prevent tennis elbow from returning. A GP can discuss whether an injection is appropriate. Shockwave therapy also needs to be delayed for at least 12 weeks after a cortisone injection in the same area.

 

Does tennis elbow hurt right on the bone?

 

The sore spot is often right over the bony bump on the outside of the elbow. This is the lateral epicondyle, where the affected tendon attaches.

 

Should tennis elbow be massaged?

 

Massage and other hands-on treatments may ease soreness, but they don't replace the exercises needed to strengthen the tendon.

 

Does tennis elbow come back?

 

It can flare up again, particularly after a sudden increase in gripping, lifting or other demanding activities. Continuing the strengthening exercises and increasing activity gradually can help reduce the risk.