Chiropractor for Tennis Elbow: Treatment Options

Can a Chiropractor Help With Tennis Elbow?

Yes, a chiropractor can effectively treat tennis elbow by utilizing targeted joint adjustments and active therapies to restore proper alignment and reduce nerve irritation in the elbow, wrist, and cervical spine. This conservative, drug-free approach addresses the root cause of the repetitive strain to decrease local inflammation and promote long-term tissue healing. ¹

If you’re experiencing pain along the outside of your elbow and forearm—sometimes radiating into your wrist, shoulder, or neck—you may be dealing with tennis elbow, a common form of tendonitis (although calling it tennis elbow does make us feel more athletic.) Despite its name (and our attachment to it), tennis elbow affects far more people who don’t play tennis than those who do.

Tennis elbow contributes to tens of thousands of missed workdays each year and can significantly limit daily activities like lifting, gripping, or twisting. Understanding what causes tennis elbow—and how chiropractic care can help—can make a meaningful difference in recovery.

What Causes Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, clinically known as lateral epicondylitis, develops from repetitive strain rather than a single [accident or injury]. Repeated gripping, lifting, or wrist extension can overload the tendons that attach to the outer elbow, leading to microscopic tendon damage and inflammation.

People at higher risk include:

• Racquet sport athletes
• Painters, carpenters, plumbers, and mechanics
• Warehouse, delivery, and assembly workers
• Hair stylists, massage therapists, cooks, and butchers
• Anyone performing repetitive forearm or hand movements

Adults between 30 and 50 are most commonly affected, especially when repetitive work or weightlifting is involved.

Understanding the Role of the Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB)

The elbow joint is formed by three bones: the humerus (upper arm), radius, and ulna (forearm). The bony prominence on the outside of the elbow is called the lateral epicondyle.

Several forearm muscles attach here, including the ECRB. This muscle helps stabilize the wrist while gripping and lifting. Overuse or biomechanical stress can weaken the ECRB tendon, causing tiny tears where it attaches to the bone—leading to inflammation and pain.

Because the ECRB rubs against nearby bony structures as the elbow bends and straightens, wear and tear can build gradually over time.

Common Symptoms of Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow symptoms often develop slowly and may worsen over weeks or months. Without care, [joint pain] can persist for weeks—or even years. Common symptoms include:

• Tenderness on the outside of the elbow
• Weak grip strength
• Pain when lifting, gripping, or carrying
• Wrist or forearm weakness
• Pain when twisting the arm (opening jars or doorknobs)
• Difficulty fully extending the arm
• Swelling around the elbow

In more severe cases, swelling may cause the affected elbow to appear visibly larger than the other.

Short-Term Relief: The RICE Method

For early or mild symptoms, short-term relief may include:

• Rest: Limit use of the affected arm
• Ice: Apply a wrapped ice pack for 20 minutes every 2–3 hours
• Compression: Use a snug (not tight) elbow sleeve
• Elevation: Keep the arm elevated above heart level

If symptoms don’t improve within a few days, it’s important to seek professional evaluation to prevent worsening pain or long-term dysfunction.

How a Chiropractor Diagnoses Tennis Elbow

Chiropractic care offers a conservative, drug-free approach to tennis elbow. During your evaluation, your doctor will assess your elbow, wrist, shoulder, and spinal motion; test your muscle strength and flexibility; and analyze your postural and movement patterns. This helps confirm that symptoms are due to tennis elbow and not another condition.

How Chiropractic Care Treats Tennis Elbow

Care plans are individualized based on severity, activity level, and movement patterns. Treatment typically includes:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments gentle, targeted adjustments may be applied to the elbow, wrist, shoulder, or spine to restore joint alignment, reduce nerve irritation, and improve mobility. Proper alignment allows irritated tissues to heal more effectively and reduces strain on overworked muscles and tendons. Research has shown strong connections between elbow pain and cervical spine dysfunction, highlighting the importance of addressing the entire kinetic chain. ²

“As a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician, I’ve seen how repetitive strain breaks down the body over time. Healing isn’t just about treating the elbow; it’s about addressing the biomechanics of the entire kinetic chain—from the cervical spine down to the wrist—so the body can truly self-heal.” — Dr. Thomas MacNeill-Zimmerman, D.C.

Active Therapies

Active therapies complement adjustments by strengthening muscles, improving flexibility, and supporting long-term recovery.³ Your chiropractor or chiropractic technician will guide you through specific movements and stretches designed to reduce inflammation and prevent recurrence.

Preventing Tennis Elbow from Returning

Once healing begins, prevention becomes key. Strategies include:

• Warming up before activity
• Taking breaks from repetitive tasks
• Varying workouts to reduce tendon strain
• Wearing a brace during high-load activities
• Modifying biomechanics and technique

Pushing through pain can delay healing. Understanding the difference between healthy muscle soreness and tendon injury is critical for long-term recovery.

Exercises to Help Relieve or Prevent Tennis Elbow

(Important note from our docs: Avoid performing these exercises immediately after ice or heat therapy.)

• Fist Clench: Squeeze a rolled towel or small ball for 10 seconds. Repeat 10 times per side.



• Towel Twist: Hold a towel with both hands and twist as if wringing water. Repeat 20 times.



• Wrist Extension: With palm facing down, curl the wrist upward using light weight or no weight. Repeat 10 times per side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does wearing an elbow brace actually help tennis elbow?

Yes, wearing a counterforce brace or elbow strap can be highly effective during the healing process. The brace acts as a secondary muscle attachment point, absorbing the force generated by gripping and lifting. This reduces the mechanical strain on your injured ECRB tendon so it can rest and recover.

How long does tennis elbow take to heal with chiropractic care?

Healing timelines vary depending on the severity of the tendon damage and how long you’ve had the condition. With a combination of chiropractic adjustments, active therapies, and rest, many patients begin noticing reduced pain and improved grip strength within a few weeks, though full tissue recovery can take several months.

Is heat or ice better for tennis elbow?

In the acute phase (the first few days of sharp pain or a flare-up), ice is generally better for reducing inflammation and numbing the pain. Once the initial swelling has subsided, heat can be applied before stretching or physical activity to increase blood flow and relax tight forearm muscles.

References

1. Bisset, Leanne, et al. Mobilisation with movement and exercise, corticosteroid injection, or wait and see for tennis elbow: randomised trial. BMJ, vol. 333, no. 7575, 2006.
2. Vicenzino, Bill, et al. Initial effects of cervical spine manipulative physiotherapy on motor system dysfunction in lateral epicondylalgia. Pain, vol. 68, no. 1, 1996, pp. 69-74.
3. Cullinane, Faye L., et al. Is eccentric exercise an effective treatment for lateral epicondylitis? A systematic review. Clinical Rehabilitation, vol. 28, no. 1, 2014, pp. 3-19.