Tennis Elbow Treatment in West Los Angeles
We provide specialized physical therapy for patients dealing with tennis elbow — also known as lateral epicondylitis or lateral epicondylalgia — throughout West Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Despite the name, tennis elbow affects far more non-tennis players than tennis players. It is one of the most common overuse injuries we see — and one that responds very well to the right physical therapy approach. Pain on the outside of the elbow with gripping, lifting, or twisting activities is the hallmark symptom, and it can range from mildly annoying to severely limiting depending on how long it has been present and how it has been managed.
Our goal is to help you reduce pain, restore full strength and grip function, and return to your work, sport, or daily activities without elbow pain — for good, not just temporarily.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow is an overuse injury affecting the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle — the bony prominence on the outside of the elbow. It develops when repetitive gripping, lifting, or forearm rotation overloads the extensor tendons beyond their capacity to recover.
It is common in tennis players, but just as frequently seen in office workers, construction workers, mechanics, chefs, and anyone who performs repetitive hand and forearm tasks throughout the day.
The most important thing to understand about tennis elbow is that rest alone rarely fixes it. The tendon needs the right type of progressive loading to heal — simply avoiding painful activities temporarily relieves pain but does not address the underlying issue, which is why it keeps coming back.
What to Expect
Treatment begins with a thorough evaluation to identify what’s driving your symptoms and rule out other causes of lateral elbow pain, including referred pain from the cervical spine or radial nerve.
Treatment may include:
- Manual therapy to reduce pain and improve tissue mobility
- Progressive eccentric and isometric tendon loading
- Forearm, wrist, and shoulder strengthening
- Activity modification guidance
- Shockwave therapy for chronic or stubborn cases
- Grip strength and endurance training
- Gradual return to full activity
For chronic tennis elbow that has not responded to other treatments, shockwave therapy is a highly effective option we offer at our West Los Angeles clinic.
Who Gets Tennis Elbow
Tennis elbow is most common in people between 35 and 55 years old, though it can affect anyone who performs repetitive arm tasks. Activities and occupations commonly associated with tennis elbow include:
- Tennis and racquet sports
- Typing and computer work
- Carpentry and construction
- Plumbing and mechanical work
- Cooking and food preparation
- Painting and decorating
- Weightlifting and CrossFit
If your pain has persisted for more than a few weeks despite rest, it is unlikely to resolve on its own without the right loading program.
When to See Someone
If your elbow pain has persisted beyond a few weeks, is returning every time you go back to normal activities, or is affecting your ability to grip, lift, or type, it is worth getting a proper evaluation. The longer tennis elbow goes without appropriate treatment, the more chronic and difficult to resolve it becomes.
In California, you can see a physical therapist directly without a doctor’s referral.
Our Goal
Our goal is to help you resolve your tennis elbow completely — not just manage it temporarily. As your physical therapist in West Los Angeles, we use a combination of manual therapy, progressive tendon loading, and when appropriate, shockwave therapy to achieve results that last.