Tennis Elbow: What It Really Means (And Why You Don’t Need to Play Tennis to Get It)

 

You wake up one morning, try to lift your coffee mug, and there it is — that stubborn pain on the outside of your elbow. Maybe you brushed it off last week thinking it was just a strain. But now, the discomfort has become more noticeable. It nags at you when you grip your toothbrush, carry groceries, or even open a door.

Surprised? Don’t be. This is something we see almost every day at Adam Vital Hospital, and it’s often not caused by sports. It’s called tennis elbow, and ironically, most people who have it have never even held a tennis racket.

So, What Is Tennis Elbow, Really?

Tennis elbow is the layman’s term for lateral epicondylitis — a painful condition that happens when the tendons connecting your forearm muscles to your elbow become overloaded. Repetition is the usual culprit. You don’t have to be hitting serves on a clay court — typing all day, lifting weights incorrectly, or using tools can wear those tendons down over time.

Think of it this way: the tendons in your elbow are like ropes. If you keep tugging at the same spot over and over again, the rope starts to fray. That fraying causes inflammation, pain, and, eventually, weakness in your grip.

Who Gets It?

It’s not just athletes.

In fact, at Adam Vital, we see more cases among office workers, mechanics, chefs, and parents than professional tennis players. Anyone who performs repetitive arm or wrist movements for hours — whether it’s painting, carrying children, or even playing musical instruments — can develop tennis elbow.

Age plays a role too. Most patients are between 35 and 55. And in our experience, right-handed individuals often suffer in the right arm — simply because it's the dominant one doing most of the work.

How Does It Feel?

The classic sign? A dull, aching pain on the outer side of the elbow. Some people describe it as a burning sensation that worsens when they grip or lift something — even something as light as a cup or a pen.

The pain may travel down the forearm. Many patients notice their grip feels weaker, or they find themselves dropping objects more often.

It doesn’t come on suddenly. It’s not usually the result of a single incident. It builds up over time — and that’s what makes it tricky. Many people ignore it at first, thinking it's just fatigue. But left untreated, it can become a chronic issue.

How Do We Diagnose It at Adam Vital Hospital?

Here, we don’t rush things. We start with a detailed conversation — when did the pain begin? What activities make it worse? Have you changed your daily routine recently?

Then we move on to a physical examination. We look for tenderness along the lateral epicondyle (the bony bump on the outside of the elbow), check your range of motion, and test your grip strength. In most cases, that’s enough.

But if we suspect something more complex — like a nerve issue or deeper tendon damage — we may recommend an MRI or ultrasound, which we do in-house with the latest imaging tech.

What’s the Treatment?

Here’s some good news: 90% of patients recover without surgery.

The first line of treatment is usually rest and activity modification. If you can avoid the repetitive movement that caused the issue — even temporarily — you’re halfway there.

At Adam Vital Hospital, we build a personalized treatment plan around your needs, lifestyle, and how far the condition has progressed.

Here’s what a typical treatment journey might look like:

1. Physiotherapy

This isn’t just a few stretches and ice packs. Our rehab team specializes in tendon-specific therapy. We focus on:

Eccentric exercises (which have been proven to promote tendon healing)

Manual therapy to reduce tension

Dry needling or ultrasound if needed

Ergonomic correction for daily tasks

2. Pain Management

We often start with over-the-counter anti-inflammatories. If pain persists, we may consider a short course of oral medication or localized injections — such as PRP (platelet-rich plasma), which uses your own blood to stimulate healing in the damaged tendon.

3. Bracing or Taping

A forearm band worn just below the elbow can reduce strain during movement, especially if you can’t avoid certain tasks at work.

4. Surgical Intervention

Reserved only for the most stubborn cases — usually when patients have had symptoms for over a year despite therapy. Even then, it’s typically a minimally invasive procedure to remove degenerated tissue and stimulate healing.

How Long Does Recovery Take?

This is the question most patients ask first.

Truthfully? It depends.

Some people recover within 6 to 8 weeks. Others take a few months — especially if they’ve had the pain for a long time before seeking treatment. The key is consistency: showing up for rehab, doing your exercises at home, and avoiding the movements that caused the problem in the first place.

Final Thoughts

Tennis elbow isn’t life-threatening, but it can certainly be life-disrupting. If you’ve been living with pain and hoping it will go away on its own — it might not. The sooner you address it, the faster and easier the recovery.

You don’t need to suffer through it.

Reach out to us at Adam Vital Hospital. Let’s talk about what you’re experiencing and map out a path to relief — together.