Tennis Elbow & Chiropractic Care

Natural care to help manage or eliminate tennis elbow.

Updated June 2023 by Dr. Lloyd Fielder, D.C.

Are you experiencing pain and discomfort in your elbow? It could be tennis elbow, a common condition that affects not only tennis players but anyone who engage in repetitive arm and hand movements such as people who type at a keyboard for long periods of time.

Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, most often causes pain and inflammation in the tendons of the elbow. Overuse and repetitive stress causes microtears and degeneration in the tendons, leading to pain, tenderness, inflammation and limited range of motion. Anyone who is suffering from this knows that it can be a nagging injury to deal with.

How We Approach Treatment For Tennis Elbow

The good news is that our chiropractors are skilled in correctly diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal conditions, especially tennis elbow.

When you visit an Evolve chiropractor, they will perform a comprehensive evaluation, which includes a physical examination, medical history review, and imaging tests if necessary. This ensures an accurate diagnosis and a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

Proper diagnosis is crucial, as other conditions like golfer’s elbow, thoracic outlet syndrome, misalignments of the spine and pinched nerves in the neck can mimic the symptoms of Tennis elbow.

As chiropractors we are specifically trained to differentiate between these conditions and provide the appropriate course of treatment. This ensures that you receive targeted care and achieve optimal results saving you both time and money.

Chiropractic care takes a conservative approach to treat tennis elbow, focusing on non-invasive and drug-free solutions. The treatment may involve various techniques such as:

Chiropractic Adjustments: Gentle spinal and extremity adjustments help restore joint function, reduce inflammation, and promote healing.

Soft Tissue Therapy: Our chiropractors may utilize techniques like myofascial release to relieve muscle tension, reduce scar tissue, and enhance blood circulation in the affected area.

Therapeutic Exercises: Specific exercises and stretches are prescribed to strengthen the muscles around the elbow, improving flexibility and reducing the risk of future injury.

Tennis Elbow Treatment Success With Chiropractic Care

The most important thing to remember is that effective treatment of tennis elbow starts with proper diagnosis. By identifying the root cause of your elbow pain, our chiropractors can develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses the underlying cause. This holistic approach not only provides symptomatic relief but also promotes long-term healing and prevents reoccurrence.

With chiropractic care, you can find relief from tennis elbow and regain your active lifestyle without resorting to invasive procedures or medications. Our comprehensive approach, conservative care, and focus on accurate diagnosis can help you find long-lasting relief and get back to the activities you love.

It is for this reason that our initial examination is only $21 in all of our offices. This is so that a person like yourself can find out if you actually do have tennis elbow, why you might have it, what is the cause and what is the best solution for you as a unique individual. If you have any questions, please send us an email anytime and thank you for reading!

Understanding Tennis Elbow and the Clinical Role of Chiropractic Care

Tennis elbow isn’t limited to athletes – it affects anyone engaging in frequent gripping or wrist extension, from manual laborers to office professionals. Characterized by inflammation in the tendons that connect forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow, it can interfere with everything from lifting groceries to typing on a keyboard.

Chiropractic care offers a targeted, conservative solution for this condition. Unlike symptom-based treatment approaches, chiropractors evaluate the entire musculoskeletal chain – from the shoulder girdle to the wrist – to uncover dysfunctional movement patterns and misalignments contributing to the injury.

Athletes and highly active individuals often benefit from chiropractic techniques because they can help restore both joint mobility and muscular balance without relying on medications or downtime. Compared to traditional routes like steroid injections or prolonged rest, chiropractic methods emphasize function, circulation, and long-term recovery.

Clinical Benefits of Chiropractic Care in Managing Tennis Elbow Pain

Chiropractic care addresses more than just the elbow – it works through the interconnected nature of the body. Immediate benefits include reduced local inflammation and muscle tightness, but patients often report improvements in range of motion, circulation, and even posture as a result of treatment.

Manual therapies – such as instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization and cross-friction massage – can release adhesions in the forearm muscle and speed up healing. Chiropractic adjustment treatment performed on the elbow or spine can also alleviate pressure on nerves contributing to shoulder pain, neck pain, and other pain referral patterns.

In many cases, patients experience increased grip strength and less stiffness after just a few visits. Longer-term benefits include better biomechanics, reduced risk of recurrence, and the ability to return to physical activity with confidence. This whole-body approach to recovery is why many athletes choose chiropractic care not just for recovery – but for performance enhancement.

Distinguishing Chiropractic and Physical Therapy in Elbow Rehabilitation

Both chiropractic and physical therapy aim to rehabilitate the body, but their approaches differ. Chiropractic focuses on restoring alignment and joint mobility, while physical therapy emphasizes muscle strengthening and functional retraining. While each modality offers value independently, a combined approach can lead to faster, more sustainable outcomes.

Chiropractic care excels in the diagnostic and structural correction phase – identifying joint restrictions, nerve involvement, and compensatory patterns. Once the elbow joint is functioning properly, physical therapy can complement care by reinforcing new movement patterns and building durability through exercise.

When used together, chiropractic and physical therapy can create a full-spectrum recovery plan that addresses both the cause and the consequence of acute tennis elbow.

Non-Invasive Treatment Modalities for Elbow Injuries

For patients seeking drug-free, surgery-free pain relief, several evidence-based options exist. Chiropractic care often acts as the foundation of a non-invasive strategy, complemented by additional therapies that support tissue healing.

In addition to adjustments and manual therapies, modalities like cold laser, kinesiology taping, and rehabilitative stretching can be integrated based on the severity and chronicity of the injury. Chiropractors may also educate patients on modifying activities, using ergonomic tools, or implementing postural corrections to reduce repetitive strain.

Some individuals also benefit from alternative methods such as acupuncture or dry needling, which can be combined with chiropractic for a more holistic protocol. These integrative approaches empower patients to heal without relying on pain medications or corticosteroid injections.

Evidence-Based Chiropractic Techniques for Sports-Related Elbow Conditions

Sports-related elbow injuries often involve more than just localized inflammation – they reflect dysfunctions in movement mechanics, muscular imbalances, and overtraining. Chiropractors who specialize in athletic care may tailor their techniques to meet these performance-specific demands.

For a tennis player or other athletes, treatment often includes diversified adjusting techniques, active release methods, and extremity mobilizations. Soft tissue tools such as Graston or cupping may also be applied to improve tissue extensibility and reduce fascial restriction. Importantly, chiropractors can identify compensations in the shoulder or wrist that may be increasing strain on the elbow.

Preventive care is another pillar of sports chiropractic. By addressing mobility limitations or instability before pain develops, athletes can extend their careers and reduce time lost to sports injury. Chiropractic maintenance care visits can also help monitor musculoskeletal health throughout training cycles.

Chiropractic Support in Elbow Rehabilitation and Functional Recovery

Rehabilitation doesn’t stop at treatment – it continues through movement. Chiropractors provide patients with tailored rehabilitation programs that begin gently and progress as healing allows. These exercises focus on improving load tolerance, range of motion, and proprioception of the elbow joint.

Eccentric loading exercises are often a part of rehab plans for tennis elbow, as they’ve been shown to aid tendon healing. Isometric contractions, grip training, and resistance band movements may be employed as well to help reintroduce strength safely. Chiropractors also coach proper form during repetitive tasks to protect the joint during daily use.

Lifestyle guidance is included as well. This may entail taking breaks during typing, using forearm supports, or modifying lifting technique. Small adjustments like these have the power to dramatically reduce the likelihood of reinjury.

Integrative and Lifestyle-Based Approaches to Elbow Pain Management

True recovery from tennis elbow extends beyond the elbow itself. Holistic chiropractic care looks at how diet, sleep, stress, and movement patterns influence pain and healing capacity. Nutritional support – including anti-inflammatory foods and targeted supplementation – can aid in tendon recovery.

Massage therapy may be added to reduce residual tension and promote relaxation, particularly when stress contributes to muscular bracing. Chiropractic offices that offer acupuncture often use it to stimulate local healing, balance the nervous system, and support pain reduction.

Ultimately, these holistic strategies aim to optimize healing conditions, not just suppress tennis elbow symptoms. A chiropractor for tennis elbow works with patients to create sustainable habits that promote full-body wellness, allowing them to stay active and pain-free in the long term.

Comprehensive Outcomes Through Multidisciplinary Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic care provides a comprehensive, effective approach to both treating and preventing tennis elbow. By addressing underlying mechanical issues, supporting tissue repair, and offering non-invasive solutions, our chiropractors empower patients to take control of their recovery journey.

A multidisciplinary approach – one that may include chiropractic, physical therapy, and lifestyle support – offers the most well-rounded path to healing. With proper guidance, individuals dealing with elbow pain can return to the activities they love without relying on surgery or long-term medication.

For those looking for a conservative yet powerful solution to tennis elbow, chiropractic treatment through Evolve offers an evidence-based, personalized path forward.