TENNIS & GOLFER’S ELBOW TREATMENT MANCHESTER

Helping people manage elbow pain, tendon injuries and activity-related discomfort through personalised osteopathic treatment and rehabilitation.

Elbow pain can make everyday movements surprisingly difficult,  from gripping and lifting to typing, training, playing sport or even carrying a shopping bag.

Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are common overuse injuries affecting the tendons around the elbow. Despite their names, you don’t need to play tennis or golf to develop either condition. Repetitive gripping, lifting, manual work, gym training and prolonged computer use can all contribute.

Symptoms may begin gradually as mild discomfort before becoming increasingly noticeable during activity. For some people, pain can persist even after reducing the activity that initially triggered it.

At Corrective Pain Relief in Manchester City Centre, we assess the elbow alongside the wrist, shoulder, neck and wider movement patterns that may be contributing to excessive strain through the affected tendons.

Looking to learn more about osteopathy? Visit our dedicated Osteopathy page.

Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are conditions involving the tendons that attach the muscles of the forearm to the elbow.

Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylalgia or lateral elbow tendinopathy, affects the tendons on the outside of the elbow. It commonly involves the muscles responsible for extending the wrist and fingers and is often aggravated by gripping, lifting and repetitive wrist movements.

Golfer’s elbow, also known as medial epicondylalgia or medial elbow tendinopathy, affects the tendons on the inside of the elbow. These tendons are associated with the muscles responsible for gripping and flexing the wrist and fingers.

Although historically described as forms of “tendinitis”, persistent cases are more commonly associated with changes in tendon structure and its ability to tolerate repeated load rather than simply inflammation.

Both conditions can develop when the demands placed on the tendon repeatedly exceed its current capacity to recover and adapt.

Looking to learn more about a specific condition? Visit our Pain Explained section for detailed information on symptoms, causes, and treatment approaches.

💪 Pain Around the Elbow

Tennis elbow typically causes pain or tenderness around the outside of the elbow, while golfer’s elbow more commonly affects the inside of the elbow.

🤝 Pain When Gripping

Gripping objects, shaking hands, carrying bags or holding weights may reproduce symptoms around the affected tendon.

🏋️ Pain With Lifting

Lifting during everyday activities or exercise can become uncomfortable, particularly when the wrist and forearm are working against resistance.

✋ Reduced Grip Strength

The arm may feel weaker than usual, particularly during repetitive gripping or when attempting to hold heavier objects.

🔄 Pain With Wrist & Forearm Movements

Movements involving the wrist, forearm or repetitive hand activity can place additional load through the irritated tendons.

🎾 Sport & Exercise-Related Pain

Racket sports, golf, climbing, weight training and other activities involving repeated gripping or upper-limb loading may aggravate symptoms.

Symptoms often develop gradually rather than following a single injury. In some cases, discomfort initially occurs only during activity but can become more persistent if the tendon continues to be overloaded.

Tennis and golfer’s elbow commonly develop when repeated or increased demands on the forearm muscles and tendons exceed their current ability to recover and adapt.

This does not always mean that one particular movement is “bad”. Often, symptoms develop following a change in training, workload, technique or the amount of repetitive activity performed.

📈 Sudden Increase in Activity

Increasing training frequency, intensity or volume too quickly can expose the tendons to more load than they are accustomed to.

🏋️ Gym & Strength Training

Pulling exercises, heavy lifting, curls, gripping weights and repetitive upper-body training can increase demand through the forearm and elbow.

🎾 Repetitive Sport

Tennis, padel, golf, climbing and other sports involving repeated gripping, swinging or forearm movements can contribute to tendon overload.

🔨 Manual & Repetitive Work

Trades, manual handling, tool use and occupations involving repeated gripping or wrist movements can place considerable demand through the elbow.

💻 Desk & Computer Work

Prolonged mouse use, typing and repetitive hand movements may contribute to forearm tension and irritation, particularly alongside other physical demands.

🔄 Reduced Movement or Strength Elsewhere

Restrictions or reduced capacity through the wrist, shoulder, upper back or neck may alter how load is distributed through the arm during work, sport and exercise.

Often, there is no single cause. Identifying the activities and contributing factors associated with your symptoms can help guide treatment, activity modification and a progressive rehabilitation plan.

Tennis and golfer’s elbow aren’t limited to racket sports. Repetitive gripping, pulling and upper-body loading can place considerable demands on the muscles and tendons around the elbow.

These symptoms may affect people participating in padel, where repeated racket movements load the forearm; climbing and bouldering, where sustained gripping and pulling are common; and calisthenics, where exercises such as pull-ups and muscle-ups require progressive upper-body strength.

Assessment and rehabilitation consider the individual’s symptoms, training demands and tolerance to loading, helping guide a gradual return to activity.

Related activities:

• Padel Manchester
• Climbing & Bouldering Manchester
• Calisthenics Manchester

Every patient receives a thorough assessment to help identify the factors contributing to their symptoms. While tennis and golfer’s elbow may appear similar from person to person, the activities, loading patterns and contributing factors involved can vary considerably.

Our assessment process is designed to build a clear understanding of your symptoms, upper-limb function, training or occupational demands, lifestyle and treatment goals so that recommendations can be tailored to your individual needs.

1️⃣ Understanding Your Symptoms

We begin by discussing when your elbow pain started, which movements aggravate it, your medical history, sporting activities, work demands and any recent changes in training or activity levels.

We’ll also consider whether symptoms are confined to the elbow or whether you are experiencing referred pain, weakness, altered sensation or other symptoms that may require assessment beyond the local area.

2️⃣ Physical Examination

The elbow, wrist and forearm are assessed for movement, tenderness and tissue function. Specific resisted movements and grip testing may be used to assess the muscles and tendons commonly associated with tennis and golfer’s elbow.

Where appropriate, we may also assess the shoulder, upper back and neck to identify other factors that could be influencing how the upper limb is functioning.

3️⃣ Functional Assessment

Where appropriate, we assess movements relevant to your everyday activities, work, gym training or sport.

This may include gripping, lifting, pulling or other movements that reproduce symptoms, helping us understand how the elbow responds to load and providing useful markers for rehabilitation.

4️⃣ Diagnosis & Treatment Plan

Following your assessment, we’ll explain our findings, discuss the factors that may be contributing to your symptoms and outline an appropriate treatment and rehabilitation plan based on your individual goals.

If your presentation suggests that further investigation or specialist input may be appropriate, we can also discuss diagnostic imaging or onward referral options.

Treatment is always tailored to the individual and the demands placed upon the elbow and forearm.

Depending on your symptoms and clinical findings, treatment may include:

• Osteopathic manual therapy
• Joint mobilisation and manipulation
• Soft tissue treatment
• Medical acupuncture or dry needling
• IASTM / Gua Sha where appropriate
• Forearm and grip strengthening
• Progressive tendon-loading rehabilitation
• Wrist, elbow and shoulder mobility exercises
• Sport, work and activity guidance
• Return-to-sport or training rehabilitation
• Training and workload management

Our goal is not simply to reduce pain, but to improve tendon capacity, restore upper-limb function and build resilience for the activities that matter to you.

What is the difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow?

The main difference is the location of the affected tendons. Tennis elbow typically causes pain around the outside of the elbow, while golfer’s elbow usually causes pain around the inside of the elbow. Both conditions are commonly associated with repetitive loading of the forearm muscles and tendons.

Do I need to play tennis or golf to develop these conditions?

No. Despite their names, both conditions frequently occur in people who do not play either sport. Gym training, climbing, padel, manual work, repetitive gripping, computer use and other activities involving repeated wrist and forearm movements can contribute.

How long does tennis or golfer’s elbow take to recover?

Recovery varies depending on how long symptoms have been present, the demands placed on the tendon and individual factors. Tendon problems can sometimes take time to settle, particularly when the aggravating activity cannot easily be avoided. Progressive rehabilitation and appropriate management of activity are often important parts of recovery.

Should I stop exercising if I have tennis or golfer’s elbow?

Not necessarily. Complete rest is not always required, and maintaining appropriate activity can form part of rehabilitation. However, exercises or activities that repeatedly aggravate symptoms may need to be temporarily modified while the tendon gradually builds its capacity to tolerate load.

Can osteopathy help with tennis or golfer’s elbow?

Osteopathic management may include manual therapy, soft tissue techniques, joint mobilisation, medical acupuncture or dry needling where appropriate, alongside advice and progressive rehabilitation.

Treatment is tailored to the individual and may also consider the wrist, shoulder, upper back and neck where these areas are relevant to the presentation.

When should elbow pain be investigated further?

Further investigation may be considered when symptoms are persistent, worsening, associated with significant weakness or neurological symptoms, follow substantial trauma, or when the clinical findings suggest another condition may be contributing.

Where appropriate, Corrective Pain Relief can arrange referral for diagnostic imaging or specialist assessment.

→ Diagnostic Imaging Referrals

Are injections available for persistent tennis or golfer’s elbow?

In some cases of persistent elbow pain, specialist assessment or injection therapy may be considered after appropriate conservative management.

Corrective Pain Relief works with trusted healthcare providers in Manchester and can arrange onward referral when clinically appropriate.