Tennis elbow
Understand pain on the outside of the elbow, common gripping triggers and a gradual approach to restoring arm function.
Seek medical assessment for significant swelling, heat or redness, fever, worsening pain, altered sensation or a change in hand colour. Pain after a major injury may need urgent assessment.
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are different
Tennis elbow, also called lateral elbow tendinopathy, affects the outside of the elbow. Golfer’s elbow affects the inner side. These names describe different tendon regions; they are not interchangeable. You do not have to play tennis or golf to develop either problem.
Why gripping can hurt
Repeated use of the wrist and forearm can irritate the tendon attachment at the elbow. Lifting, tool use, racquet sport and some work tasks may provoke symptoms. Pain can spread into the forearm and make gripping feel weak. The pattern of symptoms helps a clinician distinguish tendon pain from other causes.
Assessment and day-to-day changes
An examination looks at tenderness, movement, strength and the activities that reproduce your symptoms. Scans are not always required. Discuss changes to task duration, grip, equipment and workload. Reducing a particularly aggravating task does not necessarily mean stopping all arm use.
Building capacity over time
A physiotherapist may prescribe suitable stretching and strengthening and help adjust the workload as symptoms change. A brace or hands-on care may be considered for symptom relief, alongside an active plan. Improvement can take time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about medicine suitability rather than assuming an anti-inflammatory is appropriate for everyone. Persistent symptoms warrant review of the diagnosis and management options.
Make your appointment useful
Bring a brief history of the symptoms, relevant reports and your medicines list. Explain which activities matter most to you and what you have already tried. Ask what diagnosis best explains the findings, what would change that diagnosis and how you will measure progress.
Agree on what to do between appointments, how to adjust activity if symptoms change and when to review the plan. Tell your practitioner if treatment causes a new problem or progress stalls.
Finding care in Melbourne’s north
People in Epping, Mill Park, Lalor, Reservoir and surrounding northern suburbs can contact Muscle Joint Bone about an appropriate appointment. The clinic is at 26 Childs Road, Epping. Confirm the relevant practitioner’s scope and current availability when booking.
Sources and further reading
General education, updated November 2026. This information does not replace an individual assessment.
