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.
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.
Pain or burning on the outside of the elbow
Discomfort when gripping your racket or lifting objects
Weakness in the forearm
Pain that worsens with repetitive use
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.
Strengthening the forearm, shoulder, and grip muscles is key. At Stark Performance, we often prescribe:
Eccentric wrist extensions to build tendon tolerance
Shoulder and scapular strengthening for better arm mechanics
Mobility work to reduce strain on the elbow
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.