Tennis Elbow Treatment in Kitchener
Most people we see with tennis elbow have never picked up a racquet. The name is misleading – this is a repetitive strain condition, and it turns up far more often in tradespeople, office workers, gardeners, and anyone whose hands and wrists do the same thing all day.
The pain sits on the outside of the elbow and has a particular signature: it flares when you grip something, shake a hand, lift a coffee cup, or turn a doorknob. Small movements, disproportionate pain.
What Is Tennis Elbow?
Tennis elbow, clinically, lateral epicondylitis, involves irritation of the tendons that attach the forearm extensor muscles to the bony bump on the outside of your elbow. These are the muscles that lift your wrist and straighten your fingers, and they work constantly, often without you noticing.
With repeated strain, small areas of the tendon become irritated and begin to break down faster than the body repairs them. The result is pain, tenderness, and weakness in a spot that gets used all day long.
Common symptoms:
- Pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow
- Discomfort that worsens with gripping, lifting, or twisting
- Weakened grip strength
- Pain that can radiate down into the forearm
- Stiffness or aching in the morning
If your pain is on the inside of your elbow rather than the outside, you may be dealing with golfer’s elbow.
Who Gets Tennis Elbow?
Anyone who repeats the same gripping or wrist-extending motion regularly. In our Kitchener practice that often means people in trades and manufacturing, office workers using a mouse for hours, and anyone who’s recently taken up a new repetitive activity like a renovation project, a new sport, a season of gardening.
It frequently appears after a change in activity rather than during a steady routine, which is why people are often puzzled about where it came from.
How Chiropractic Care May Help
Effective care for tennis elbow rarely means focusing on the elbow alone. The muscles involved cross both the elbow and the wrist, and how your shoulder and neck position your arm affects the load those muscles carry all day.
Our approach typically includes restoring proper motion to the elbow, wrist, and shoulder joints, soft tissue work to address tension and restriction in the forearm muscles, and targeted exercises to rebuild the tendon’s capacity to handle load. We also look at the activity or setup that’s driving the repetition, because without changing that, symptoms tend to return.
Tennis elbow generally responds well to conservative care, though it asks for patience. Tendon tissue heals more slowly than muscle. If your presentation suggests something other than a straightforward tendon issue, or if it isn’t responding as expected, we’ll discuss other options with you.
Book Tennis Elbow Care in Kitchener, ON
If elbow pain is making everyday grip and lifting uncomfortable, an assessment can identify what’s driving it. Contact Westheights Chiropractic today to book your appointment.
