Tennis elbow
Appointment-only osteopathic care for outer elbow pain, forearm discomfort, painful gripping and work- or sport-related elbow symptoms at Resilience Osteopathy in Orpington.
- Outer elbow pain
Pain or tenderness around the bony area on the outside of the elbow. Symptoms may sometimes travel a short distance into the upper forearm. - Pain with gripping
Gripping a cup, carrying a bag, shaking hands or holding sporting equipment may reproduce pain. Grip strength may also feel reduced because of discomfort. - Forearm pain or tightness
The muscles along the outer forearm may feel painful, tired or tight, particularly following repeated wrist or hand movements. - Work- or sport-related symptoms
Pain may become noticeable during manual work, racket sports, gym training, gardening, computer work or activities involving repeated gripping, lifting and twisting.
Osteopathic care for tennis elbow in Orpington
Tennis elbow can make everyday actions such as gripping, lifting, carrying shopping, turning a door handle or using tools uncomfortable. It can also affect racket sports, weight training, manual work and prolonged computer use.
Despite its name, tennis elbow does not only affect tennis players. Symptoms are commonly felt around the outside of the elbow and may extend into the forearm. Pain is often aggravated by gripping, lifting, twisting the wrist or repeatedly using the muscles of the forearm. Tennis elbow is also sometimes described clinically as lateral elbow tendinopathy.
At Resilience Osteopathy in Orpington, care begins with a clear assessment to understand your symptoms, how they started and which activities affect them. Treatment is tailored to you and may include hands-on osteopathic care, movement advice, activity and load management, and rehabilitation exercises where appropriate.
How osteopathy may help
Osteopathic care looks at how the elbow, wrist, forearm, shoulder and surrounding muscles and joints are functioning. Your assessment may also consider your grip, working position, sporting technique, training demands and any recent changes in activity.
Depending on the assessment findings, your appointment may include hands-on osteopathic techniques, advice about temporarily adapting aggravating activities and exercises designed to gradually strengthen the wrist and forearm. Exercise and progressive loading are commonly included in the conservative management of lateral elbow tendinopathy.
Care is based on your symptoms, goals, general health and examination findings. Not every case of outer elbow pain is tennis elbow. If your symptoms suggest that medical review, imaging or further investigation may be appropriate, you will be advised accordingly.
What to expect at your appointment
Case history
We will discuss your symptoms, how they began, the activities that aggravate them, your work, sport or training demands, previous injuries, general health and what you would like to return to doing.
Assessment
Your assessment may include examining the movement and function of your elbow, wrist, forearm, hand and shoulder. Grip strength, resisted wrist movements and relevant muscles, tendons and joints may also be assessed.
Treatment and advice
Care may include hands-on osteopathic treatment, movement advice, guidance on managing painful activities and a tailored rehabilitation programme. Exercises can be progressed gradually as your symptoms and capacity improve.
Support for grip, work, sport and everyday activity
Tennis elbow can affect much more than playing tennis. It may make it difficult to use tools, carry equipment, work at a computer, lift weights, play sport or manage routine household activities.
Complete rest is not always necessary, but temporarily changing how often, how heavily or how forcefully you perform aggravating movements may help reduce repeated irritation while maintaining useful activity.
Resilience Osteopathy supports people in Orpington who want clear advice, practical treatment and a plan that fits their lifestyle. The aim is to help you understand your symptoms, improve your confidence when using the arm and return to work, training, sport and everyday activity in a realistic way.
Why people choose Resilience Osteopathy
Patient-centred
care in Orpington
Your symptoms, concerns, work, sport and daily activity all matter. Care is tailored to you and your individual goals.
Hands-on
osteopathic treatment
Treatment may include hands-on techniques to support comfort, mobility and movement, depending on your assessment findings.
Support through
exercise
You may be given simple rehabilitation exercises or movement advice to help support recovery between appointments.
Regulated
osteopathic care
Osteopathy is a regulated healthcare profession in the UK, supported by assessment, clinical reasoning and clear communication.
Common questions
What causes tennis elbow?
Tennis elbow is associated with irritation and reduced capacity of the tendons that attach the forearm muscles to the outside of the elbow. Symptoms may develop when gripping, lifting or repeated wrist movements place more demand on these tissues than they are currently able to tolerate.
It does not only affect tennis players. Manual work, gardening, using tools, computer work, weight training and other activities involving repeated gripping or wrist movement may also contribute.
Will tennis elbow heal without treatment?
Many cases of tennis elbow gradually improve over time, particularly when aggravating activities are appropriately modified. However, symptoms can sometimes persist for several months.
Advice, progressive exercises and appropriate load management may help you remain active while gradually rebuilding the strength and capacity of the forearm.
Can I continue working or exercising with tennis elbow?
You may not need to stop all work, exercise or sport. However, temporarily reducing or adapting movements that repeatedly aggravate your symptoms may be helpful.
This could involve changing your grip, reducing the weight being lifted, taking more regular breaks or adjusting how frequently you perform the painful activity. Your activity can then be gradually increased as your symptoms and strength improve.
How long does tennis elbow take to recover?
Recovery times vary depending on how long the symptoms have been present, the demands placed on the arm and how consistently aggravating activities and rehabilitation are managed.
Some people notice improvement within several weeks, while others experience symptoms for several months or longer. Gradual progress is often more realistic than expecting the pain to disappear immediately.
Should I stretch or strengthen tennis elbow?
Gentle movement may help prevent the elbow and forearm from becoming unnecessarily stiff. Strengthening exercises are also commonly used to gradually improve the tendon’s ability to tolerate gripping, lifting and wrist movements.
Exercises should be selected and progressed according to your symptoms and current ability. Performing too much too soon may aggravate the elbow, so rehabilitation should usually be introduced gradually.
When should I see an osteopath about tennis elbow?
Consider arranging an assessment if outer elbow pain is not improving, keeps returning or is affecting your work, sport, training or everyday activities.
An osteopathic assessment can examine the elbow, wrist, forearm and other relevant areas, help identify movements that may be contributing and provide appropriate treatment, activity guidance and rehabilitation exercises. If your symptoms suggest that medical review or further investigation is needed, you will be advised accordingly.
Seek medical advice sooner if the pain followed a significant injury, is becoming progressively worse or is accompanied by marked swelling, weakness, numbness, persistent pins and needles or difficulty moving the arm.
Book tennis elbow treatment in Orpington
If outer elbow pain, painful gripping or forearm discomfort is affecting how you work, exercise, play sport or manage everyday life, contact Resilience Osteopathy to arrange an appointment.
Appointments are available by prior booking only.