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Tennis and golfer's elbow treatment in Shirley, MA
The short answer
Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow are overuse problems in the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the elbow. Tennis elbow hurts on the outside of the elbow and golfer's elbow on the inside. Most people get them from gripping, lifting, typing or tools, not from sports. With the right loading plan, and tools like shockwave or dry needling when they fit, most people get back to gripping and lifting without pain.
On this page
What usually causes tennis and golfer's elbow
You do not have to play tennis or golf to get either one. Most cases come from everyday work and hobbies that ask the forearm to grip and twist over and over.
- Repeated gripping and lifting
- Carrying bags, lifting kids, pulling weeds or holding tools stresses the forearm tendons day after day.
- Computer and phone use
- Hours of typing and using a mouse keep the forearm muscles working with little rest.
- A sudden jump in activity
- A weekend of painting, a new job, or ramping up golf, tennis or lifting too fast can overload the tendon.
- Swing and technique habits
- Grip size, a tight grip, or swing mechanics in racquet sports and golf can add strain to the elbow.
- Weak forearm, shoulder and upper back muscles
- When the shoulder and wrist are not doing their share, the elbow tendons take more of the load.
When to get it checked
Get your elbow looked at if it has hurt for more than a couple of weeks, is making it hard to grip a cup, shake hands or lift, or keeps coming back. See a doctor right away if your elbow is hot, red and swollen, if you have a fever, if it looks bent or deformed or you cannot bend or straighten it after a fall, or if you have numbness or weakness in your hand that is getting worse.
What you can do at home right now
These are safe starting points for most people. They are not a replacement for a proper evaluation.
- Ease off, do not stop
- Cut back on the gripping and lifting that makes it worse, but keep using the arm. Tendons need some load to heal.
- Lift with your palm up
- When you carry things, turn your palm up and keep the load close to your body. It takes strain off the tendon.
- Start gentle forearm strengthening
- Slow wrist curls with a light weight or a can, a few times a week, help the tendon get stronger. A little discomfort is okay, sharp pain is not.
How we treat tennis and golfer's elbow at Whole Health Solutions
Your physical therapist is with you for the whole appointment, start to finish. We look at your elbow, wrist, shoulder and neck, and the way you grip, work and swing, then build a plan to calm the tendon and make it stronger.
01
Relieve
Shockwave or dry needling when they fit, hands on care, and simple changes to how you grip and lift so the tendon can settle down.
02
Rebuild
A step by step tendon strengthening plan for the forearm, plus strength for the shoulder and upper back so the elbow is not doing all the work.
03
Perform
Back to tennis, golf, the gym, yard work and a full day at the keyboard, with a plan to keep it from coming back. Our personal trainers and athletic performance coaches can pick up where therapy leaves off.
04
Thrive
Stay with the team that knows you. Check ins, training and a quick tune up whenever something new comes up, so this stays in the past.
Thrive is not a finish line. When life brings something new, the loop starts again with the same team.
How dry needling and shockwave therapy can help
For tennis and golfer's elbow, your physical therapist may use dry needling and shockwave therapy to speed things up. They will tell you on your first visit if it is a good fit.
Dry needling
A very thin needle placed into a tight, guarded muscle helps it let go, so pain calms down and you can move and strengthen again. Always paired with hands on care and strength work.
Learn about dry needlingShockwave therapy
Sound waves delivered to a stubborn tendon or tissue help restart healing when it has stalled for months. Always paired with the strength work that keeps it from coming back.
Learn about shockwave therapyLearn from our team
Short, free videos from our clinicians on questions we hear about tennis and golfer's elbow all the time.
★★★★★
"I started working with Alicia in March for severe elbow pain. We started with exercise and blood flow restriction adding in dry needling and shockwave."
Talk to a physical therapist
A free call to tell us what is going on and see if we are the right fit.
Common questions about tennis and golfer's elbow
What is the difference between tennis elbow and golfer's elbow?
Tennis elbow hurts on the outside of the elbow and golfer's elbow on the inside. Both are tendon problems from overuse, and both respond to a similar plan of calming the tendon down and then strengthening it.
Does shockwave therapy work for tennis elbow?
Shockwave can be a helpful tool for stubborn tennis elbow, especially when it has lasted a while. We use it alongside strengthening, since exercise is what makes the tendon more resilient.
Should I wear a brace for tennis elbow?
A forearm strap can ease pain during activity for some people. It is a short term helper, not a fix, so it works best paired with a strengthening plan.
Do I need a referral for tennis and golfer's elbow?
No. You can book directly with us. Most of our clients do use their insurance for reimbursement of our physical therapy services. We go over everything in the discovery meeting.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Everyone is different, so the best next step is an evaluation with one of our physical therapists.
Visit us
Serving 22+ nearby towns and beyond
2 Shaker Road, Suite C200, Shirley, MA 01464. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.