Physical Therapy for Tennis Elbow: The Complete Guide

If you are suffering from tennis elbow, you may be wondering if physical therapy is the right treatment for you. Tennis elbow is a condition that affects the muscles and tendons in your arm, causing pain and inflammation. Physical therapy can help to relieve this pain and improve your range of motion. In this guide, we will discuss the benefits of physical therapy for tennis elbow and how it can help to improve your symptoms.

Understanding Physical Therapy

Before we get into the specifics of physical therapy for tennis elbow, it is important to understand what physical therapy is and how it can help. Physical therapy is a type of treatment that uses exercises and other techniques to improve your physical function. It can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

The frequency of physical therapy treatments will depend on the severity of your symptoms. For most people, 2-3 times per week for 4-6 weeks is sufficient.

Can Physical therapy Fix Tennis Elbow?

Yes, physical therapy is an effective treatment for tennis elbow. Tennis elbow is a condition that causes pain in the elbow and forearm. The pain is caused by inflammation of the tendons that attach the muscles to the bone. Physical therapy can help to reduce inflammation and pain.

Physical therapy aids in the healing process of tennis elbow by gradually reducing inflammation and restoring motion to the joint.

What Kind Of Physical Therapy Is Good For Tennis elbow?

Many different types of physical therapy can be helpful for tennis elbow. Here are some of the most common and effective:

Massage Therapy: Massage therapy can help to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation in the affected area. It can also help to loosen up the muscles and tendons around the elbow, which can reduce pain and improve the range of motion. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that massage therapy was effective at reducing pain and improving the range of motion in people with tennis elbows.

Ultrasound Therapy: Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to penetrate deep into the tissues. This can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing. A review of studies published in the International Journal of Rehabilitation Research found that ultrasound therapy was effective at reducing pain and improving function in people with tennis elbows.

Electrical Stimulation Therapy: Electrical stimulation therapy uses electrical currents to stimulate the muscles and nerves. This can help to reduce pain and improve the range of motion. One study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that electrical stimulation therapy was effective at reducing pain in people with tennis elbows.

Exercise Therapy: Exercise is an important part of recovery from any injury. For tennis elbow, exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons around the elbow can be helpful. A review of studies published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that exercise was effective at reducing pain and improving function in people with tennis elbows.

Ultrasound Therapy: Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to create heat deep within the tissues. This heat can help to reduce inflammation and pain. For instance, a 2012 study showed that ultrasound therapy was effective in treating tennis elbow.

Electrical Stimulation: Electrical stimulation is a form of physical therapy that uses electrical current to stimulate the nerves. This can help to reduce pain and inflammation. One study found that electrical stimulation was effective in treating tennis elbow.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy: Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy uses magnetic fields to stimulate healing. This therapy is often used to treat conditions like arthritis and tendinitis. For example, one study found that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy was effective in treating tennis elbow. The study found that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy reduced pain and improved function in people with tennis elbows.

Laser Therapy: Laser therapy uses high-powered beams of light to reduce pain and inflammation. This therapy is often used to treat conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. For example, a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research found that laser therapy was effective in reducing pain and improving function in people with tennis elbows.

Exercise: Exercise is one of the best things you can do for tennis elbow. It helps to strengthen the muscles and tendons around the elbow, which can help to prevent further injury. For example, you may want to try the following exercises:

• Wrist curls: Sit with your forearm resting on a table, palm up. Use your other hand to hold weight. Slowly curl your hand upwards, then lower it back down. Repeat 10-15 times,
• Reverse wrist curls: Sit with your forearm resting on a table, palm down. Use your other hand to hold weight. Slowly curl your hand upwards, then lower it back down. Repeat 10-15 times.
• Elbow bends: Stand with your arms at your sides and your palms facing forward. Bend your elbows, bringing your hands up towards your shoulders. Then straighten your arms back out. Repeat 10-15 times.

Apply Ice and heat: Applying ice to the affected area can help to reduce pain and swelling. For instance, you could apply ice for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Alternatively, you could use heat to help reduce pain and stiffness in the affected area. For example, you could use a heating pad set on low or take a warm bath.

Wearing a compression bandage can also help.

Steroids: If other treatments haven’t worked, your doctor may prescribe steroids. These are powerful anti-inflammatory medications that can be injected directly into the affected area. For example, if you have tennis elbow, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid into the space between the tendons and muscles on the outside of your elbow. The steroid reduces inflammation and pain.

You may need more than one injection, but usually no more than three within a six- to 12-week period. Side effects from these injections are rare but can include temporary pain at the injection site, lightheadedness, and flushing.

Surgery: In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the damaged tissue or to release the tension on the tendons. For example, your doctor may recommend surgery if you have a tear in your tendon or if the space around your elbow joint is narrow.

If nonsurgical treatments haven’t helped relieve your pain and improve your elbow function, you may want to consider surgery. Surgery for tennis elbow usually involves one of the following:

Arthroscopic release. In this minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon makes small incisions in your skin and inserts a thin camera called an arthroscope. Using the arthroscope, your surgeon can see the damaged tissue and release it from the bone.

How Long Is Physical Therapy For Tennis Elbow?

The duration of your Physical Therapy sessions will depend on the rate of your recovery, but most patients require therapy for two to three months. It may take four to six months before you can fully return to high-level sports and other work activities. For instance, one study found that patients who underwent physical therapy for tennis elbow required an average of about 23 visits over six months.

Placing strain on your elbow while you are recovering from tennis elbow will only worsen the injury. To avoid this, sleep on your back and try to keep your arms in a straighter position by placing pillows under each arm.

What Are The Risks Of Physical Therapy For Tennis Elbow?

There are very few risks associated with physical therapy for tennis elbow. They are as follows:

• Infection
• Excessive bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Tissue damage
• Scarring
• Joint stiffness
• Muscle weakness

Physical therapy can also cause some discomfort and pain, but this is usually temporary and will go away once the treatment is complete.

Understanding Physical Therapy

Before we get into the specifics of physical therapy for tennis elbow, it is important to understand what physical therapy is and how it can help. Physical therapy is a type of treatment that uses exercises and other techniques to improve your physical function. It can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions, including pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

The frequency of physical therapy treatments will depend on the severity of your symptoms. For most people, 2-3 times per week for 4-6 weeks is sufficient.

What Kind Of Physical Therapy Is Good For Tennis elbow?

Many different types of physical therapy can be helpful for tennis elbow. Here are some of the most common and effective:

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy can help to increase blood flow and reduce inflammation in the affected area. It can also help to loosen up the muscles and tendons around the elbow, which can reduce pain and improve the range of motion. For instance, a study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy found that massage therapy was effective at reducing pain and improving the range of motion in people with tennis elbows.

Ultrasound Therapy

Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to penetrate deep into the tissues. This can help to reduce inflammation and promote healing. A review of studies published in the International Journal of Rehabilitation Research found that ultrasound therapy was effective at reducing pain and improving function in people with tennis elbows.

Electrical Stimulation Therapy

Electrical stimulation therapy uses electrical currents to stimulate the muscles and nerves. This can help to reduce pain and improve the range of motion. One study published in the Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that electrical stimulation therapy was effective at reducing pain in people with tennis elbows.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy

This therapy uses magnetic fields to stimulate healing. This therapy is often used to treat conditions like arthritis and tendinitis. For example, one study found that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy was effective in treating tennis elbow. The study found that pulsed electromagnetic field therapy reduced pain and improved function in people with tennis elbows.

Exercise

It is one of the best things you can do for tennis elbow. It helps to strengthen the muscles and tendons around the elbow, which can help to prevent further injury. For example, you may want to try the following exercises:

• Wrist curls: Sit with your forearm resting on a table, palm up. Use your other hand to hold weight. Slowly curl your hand upwards, then lower it back down.
• Reverse wrist curls: Sit with your forearm resting on a table, palm down. Use your other hand to hold weight. Slowly curl your hand upwards, then lower it back down.
• Elbow bends: Stand with your arms at your sides and your palms facing forward. Bend your elbows, bringing your hands up towards your shoulders. Then straighten your arms back out.

Apply Ice and heat

Applying ice to the affected area can help to reduce pain and swelling. For instance, you could apply ice for 15-20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Alternatively, you could use heat to help reduce pain and stiffness in the affected area. For example, you could use a heating pad set on low or take a warm bath.

Steroids

If other treatments haven’t worked, your doctor may prescribe steroids. These are powerful anti-inflammatory medications that can be injected directly into the affected area. For example, if you have tennis elbow, your doctor may inject a corticosteroid into the space between the tendons and muscles on the outside of your elbow. The steroid reduces inflammation and pain.

Surgery

In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the damaged tissue or to release the tension on the tendons. If nonsurgical treatments haven’t helped relieve your pain and improve your elbow function, you may want to consider surgery. Surgery for tennis elbow usually involves one of the following: Arthroscopic release. In this minimally invasive procedure, your surgeon makes small incisions in your skin and inserts a thin camera called an arthroscope. Using the arthroscope, your surgeon can see the damaged tissue and release it from the bone.

How Long Is Physical Therapy For Tennis Elbow?

The duration of your Physical Therapy sessions will depend on the rate of your recovery, but most patients require therapy for two to three months. It may take four to six months before you can fully return to high-level sports and other work activities. For instance, one study found that patients who underwent physical therapy for tennis elbow required an average of about 23 visits over six months.

What Are The Risks Of Physical Therapy For Tennis Elbow?

There are very few risks associated with physical therapy for tennis elbow. They are as follows:

• Infection
• Excessive bleeding
• Nerve damage
• Tissue damage
• Scarring
• Joint stiffness
• Muscle weakness

Physical therapy can also cause some discomfort and pain, but this is usually temporary and will go away once the treatment is complete.

What Are The Benefits Of Physical Therapy For Tennis Elbow?

There are many benefits of physical therapy for tennis elbow. Physical therapy can help to:

• Reduce pain: All of the treatments above can help to reduce pain.
• Improve range of motion: Exercise, electrical stimulation, and ultrasound therapy can all help to improve the range of motion.
• Prevent further injury: Exercises that stretch and strengthen the muscles and tendons around the elbow can help to prevent further injury.
• Increase strength: Exercise can help to increase the strength of the muscles and tendons around the elbow.
• Improve function: All of the treatments above can help to improve function.
• Prevent surgery: In some cases, physical therapy can help to avoid the need for surgery.
• Reduce inflammation: Ultrasound therapy, electrical stimulation, and ice can all help to reduce inflammation.

If you are suffering from tennis elbow, you may be wondering if physical therapy is the right treatment for you.

Conclusion

It may be concluded physical therapy for tennis elbow is an effective method for treating the condition and can help prevent its recurrence. The most important factor in determining the success of physical therapy is choosing the right therapist who has experience in treating elbow conditions. Patients should also be sure to follow their therapist’s instructions and perform all exercises as prescribed.

Physical Therapy help patients recover from pain. If you’re experiencing Back pain, Shoulder pain, Knee pain, Neck pain, Elbow pain, Hip pain, or Arthritis pain, a physical therapist at MantraCare can help: Book a physiotherapy session.