Elbow & Arm CareGonstead Method

Tennis Elbow Treatment

That burning pain on the outside of your elbow isn't just a sports injury — it's a repetitive strain condition that worsens with every ignored episode. We locate the exact source and correct it.

Understanding the Condition

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is degeneration and micro-tearing of the tendons that attach your forearm extensor muscles to the bony prominence on the outer elbow (lateral epicondyle). Despite the name, most sufferers have never touched a racquet — it's the repetitive wrist and finger extension involved in typing, mouse use, tool gripping, and lifting that drives the condition. Left untreated, the tendon degenerates rather than heals, transforming a manageable strain into a chronic, debilitating problem.

Clinical Review

Medical note before you book

Reviewed by Bewell Chiropractic's Gonstead-trained clinical team.

Care is delivered by T&CM / ACM-registered chiropractors with rehabilitation support where appropriate.

This page is educational and not a diagnosis. Seek urgent medical care for severe weakness, loss of bladder or bowel control, fever, or trauma.

Root Causes

What Causes Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow is fundamentally a repetitive overload injury. The tendons attaching the wrist extensors to the lateral epicondyle are subjected to micro-tears faster than the tissue can repair itself. Several loading patterns accelerate this breakdown.

Desk Work & Mouse Use

Sustained wrist extension while mousing or typing places constant low-grade load on the extensor tendons — the leading cause in office workers.

Tool & Equipment Use

Screwdrivers, wrenches, and power tools transmit vibration and torque directly into the lateral epicondyle attachment point, causing cumulative micro-damage.

Racquet Sports Technique

Poor backhand mechanics or an oversized grip create excessive eccentric load on the extensor tendons — the original source of the condition's name.

Lifting & Gripping

Repeated lifting with palm facing down (pronated grip) — carrying bags, moving boxes, gym exercises — overloads the extensor musculature at its elbow attachment.

Cervical Nerve Involvement

C5–C6 cervical nerve root irritation can sensitise the lateral forearm pathway, making the tendons more vulnerable to overload and slower to recover.

Sudden Load Increase

A sharp spike in activity volume — a new sport, a heavy renovation project, or returning to work after leave — overwhelms tendon adaptation capacity rapidly.

Progression

How Tennis Elbow Progresses

Tennis elbow follows a predictable degenerative arc. What begins as post-activity soreness can evolve into constant pain and grip weakness if each stage isn't addressed.

Stage 1Mild

Reactive Tendinopathy

Short-term non-inflammatory response to acute overload. The outer elbow aches after activity and settles with rest. Tissue is irritated but structurally intact — the easiest stage to reverse.

Stage 2Moderate

Tendon Dysrepair

Attempted but failed healing. Disorganised collagen and increased cell activity produce a thickened, lumpy tendon. Pain begins during activity and lingers hours afterwards. Grip strength starts declining.

Stage 3Severe

Degenerative Tendinopathy

Irreversible structural change — areas of the tendon are now avascular and cell-depleted. Pain is present with light daily tasks: lifting a kettle, opening a door, shaking hands. Conservative care can still restore function but takes longer.

Stage 4Critical

Partial or Full Rupture

Accumulated damage causes the tendon to partially or fully tear. A sudden pop, immediate weakness, and inability to extend the wrist against resistance. Surgical evaluation is required at this stage.

Most tennis elbow cases are at Stage 1 or 2 — fully reversible with the right care.

The longer you wait, the more the tendon degenerates. Early intervention avoids months of pain and prevents the structural changes that make recovery unpredictable.

Recognition

Do You Experience These Symptoms?

Tennis elbow symptoms are often dismissed as minor until grip failure starts affecting daily tasks. If outer elbow pain persists beyond two weeks or returns repeatedly, the tendon is not self-repairing.

Outer elbow pain

Tenderness and burning directly over the lateral epicondyle, especially on touch

Weak grip strength

Difficulty holding cups, tools, or shaking hands without elbow pain flaring

Pain lifting objects

Aching when lifting with a palm-down grip — lifting a plate or bag from a table

Pain with wrist extension

Discomfort when bending the wrist backwards against resistance or repetitively

Morning stiffness

Elbow tightness and dull ache on waking that eases slowly after movement

Real Results

“I work in IT and the mouse pain became so bad I couldn't lift my laptop bag. The team at Bewell identified that my neck was also contributing to the problem — something my GP never mentioned. After treatment on both, the elbow pain cleared completely.”

Darren K.

Patient, Kota Damansara

Ready to heal

Get Your Spine Assessed Today

Book a Gonstead consultation at any of our three Klang Valley branches. No waiting, no forms — just fast WhatsApp booking.

Sunway Geo Sri Petaling Kota Damansara

Available every day · Walk-ins welcome

Frequently Asked

Common questions

Tennis elbow can happen from repeated gripping, lifting, typing, or wrist movements. It is not only caused by playing tennis.

Yes, elbow pain can sometimes be affected by poor shoulder mechanics or nerve irritation from the neck. In Gonstead care, we check the spine and upper limb together instead of only focusing on the elbow.

It depends on how long the problem has been there and whether the stress is still being repeated daily. Mild cases can improve faster, while chronic cases usually need more time and consistency.

Yes, chiropractic care can help by improving neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist mechanics. The goal is to reduce stress on the irritated tendon and improve how the whole chain functions.

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