How to Treat Tennis Elbow and Get Back on the Court

Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is one of the most common overuse injuries we see at Stark Performance Physical Therapy, especially among tennis and pickleball players in Pensacola. But here’s the good news: with the right treatment plan, you can recover and get back to playing pain-free.

What Causes Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow happens when the tendons on the outside of the elbow become irritated from repetitive gripping, swinging, or lifting. It’s not limited to tennis players—you can develop it from pickleball, golf, weightlifting, or even everyday activities like typing or carrying heavy bags.

Common Symptoms

1. Pain or burning on the outside of the elbow

2. Discomfort when gripping your racket or lifting objects

3. Weakness in the forearm

4. Pain that worsens with repetitive use

Treatment Strategies

1. Activity Modification

Completely stopping activity isn’t always necessary, but adjusting your workload and technique is important. Learning to “play around” the injury can help you stay active while healing.

2. Targeted Exercise

Strengthening the forearm, shoulder, and grip muscles is key. At Stark Performance, we often prescribe:

1. Eccentric wrist extensions to build tendon tolerance

2. Shoulder and scapular strengthening for better arm mechanics

3. Mobility work to reduce strain on the elbow

3. Manual Therapy & Modalities

Hands-on treatment, soft tissue work, and trigger point dry needling can decrease pain and promote healing. We may also use tools like Theragun or mobility bands as part of recovery.

4. Gradual Return to Sport

Once symptoms improve, we build you back up with sport-specific drills and work with local tennis & pickleball professionals so you can return to the court stronger than before.

When to See a Physical Therapist

If elbow pain has been limiting your play for more than a couple of weeks, or if it’s interfering with daily activities, it’s time to get it checked - Early treatment means faster recovery and less frustration.

Final Thoughts

Tennis elbow doesn’t have to keep you off the court. With a personalized treatment plan focused on strength, mobility, and progressive loading, you can eliminate pain and prevent flare-ups from coming back.

👉 At Stark Performance Physical Therapy, we specialize in helping racket sport athletes in Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, and the Gulf Coast move better, recover from injuries, and perform at their best.

Want to Learn More? 📘

If you’re dealing with tennis elbow and want a deeper dive into causes, treatments, and step-by-step exercises, we’ve created a detailed Tennis Elbow E-Book just for racket sport athletes.

👉 To get your free copy, simply:

• Email us at Info@StarkPerformancePT.com

• Text us at 850-912-9203

•  

Just mention you’d like the Tennis Elbow E-Book, and we’ll send it your way!

At Stark Performance Physical Therapy, our goal is to keep you healthy, pain-free, and playing your best—whether on the tennis court, pickleball court, or in everyday life.