Tennis elbow, clinically known as lateral epicondylitis, is one of the most common causes of elbow pain, and despite its name, it affects far more than just tennis players. It develops when the tendons connecting the forearm muscles to the outer elbow are overloaded by repetitive motion, whether from racquet sports, manual work, prolonged computer use or other repetitive arm and wrist movements. Over time, this leads to tendon irritation, micro-tears and persistent pain that can radiate down the forearm and significantly limit grip strength and daily function.
At Ray of Health, Dr James Tan provides thorough assessment and personalised treatment for tennis elbow, from activity modification, physiotherapy and bracing through to injections and surgical intervention for cases that do not resolve with conservative care, with the goal of relieving pain and restoring full arm function.
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Purpose |
Relieving pain and inflammation at the outer elbow, allowing damaged tendons to heal and restoring strength and function to the forearm and grip. |
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Recommended for |
Individuals experiencing outer elbow pain, forearm tenderness or weakness in grip that worsens with repetitive arm movements, lifting or twisting. |
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Treatment approach |
Ranges from rest, bracing, physiotherapy and anti-inflammatory medication to corticosteroid or PRP injections, shockwave therapy and surgical tendon repair for persistent cases. |
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Hospital stay |
Most treatments are outpatient. Surgery, when required, is typically performed as day surgery. |
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Recovery |
Mild to moderate cases often improve within weeks to a few months with conservative treatment. Severe or long-standing cases may take up to a year. |
Tennis Elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, is a type of overuse injury caused by the repeated motion of the arms and wrists. Mostly, tennis players who consistently grip their racquets too tightly experience this condition. However, it is not exclusive to tennis players and can affect anyone who makes repetitive movements with their arms and hands. It is caused by the overuse of the muscles and tendons in the outer elbow.
Read along further to find out about tennis elbow symptoms, its causes and diagnosis, and various tennis elbow treatment options in Singapore.
Image Credit: News Medical
Tennis elbow manifests itself as pain on the outside of the elbow. Tennis elbow pain may even extend down into your forearm and hand depending on the severity of the injury. In mild cases, you might feel discomfort or pain while making certain movements with your arm or hand. In more severe cases, you might feel pain even when the arm is at rest.
In our arm, there are tissues called tendons which connect the forearm muscles to the bony bump in the elbow. When these tendons become overwhelmed due to repeated movements, overuse, or muscle strains, they get inflamed. The tendon fibres can break down, degrade, or even tear.
With repetitive use of forearm muscles, the tendons and muscles become sore from the excessive strains, which may cause tennis elbow lateral epicondylitis. Sometimes, knocking and banging your elbow against a hard surface can also result in a Tennis Elbow. The continuous strain on the tendons can result in increased inflammation and pain, a condition called tendonitis. If left untreated, the tendons can start to degenerate causing the degenerative disease tendinosis.
Some of the common Tennis Elbow causes include:
Sometimes, an injury or disease of the connective tissues in your body may cause tennis elbow. However, in many cases, the cause of tennis elbow is unknown.
While most pain is caused by overuse or excessive strain in the forearm or elbow, it can also be caused by an injury to your arm.
Since this condition can be caused by overuse of the arm and wrists or through overexertion in sports, the symptoms may usually come on slowly. You may find that that pain gets worse gradually over a period of time.
A few telltale signs include:
When you come to our Singapore clinic, Dr James Tan will start with a physical examination in which he will examine your arm and elbow, and check for your symptoms while moving the arm in various positions. He will check for any swelling and pain while applying gentle pressure to the elbow. He will also check for any occupational risk factors and your sports participation. You should inform the doctor if you have any conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or nerve disease, or if you have ever injured your elbow.
Moreover, Dr Tan may also carry out the tennis elbow test called Mill's Test to diagnose the condition.
He may also recommend one of the following imaging exams.
A majority of patients experience relief from non-surgical treatment options. Let’s look at a few of the most common tennis elbow treatment Singapore options that your doctor may recommend.
If your symptoms do not improve or worsen after 6 to 12 months of conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery and refer you to a surgeon. The surgical treatment for tennis elbow usually involves removing the damaged tendon from the elbow and replacing it with a healthy tendon. The surgery can be carried out either as an open surgery or through arthroscopy.
Following the surgery, you may have to wear a splint or tennis elbow strap to keep the arm immobilised for a week or so. Once the splint and sutures are removed, you will be required to engage in physical therapy. Rehabilitation post-surgery will involve light tennis elbow exercises followed by strengthening exercises. Tennis elbow surgery has a good success rate of 80% to 90%. However, it does carry the risk of patients experiencing a loss of strength.
We often get questions about how to treat tennis elbow pain at home. While it is essential to remember that you need to get examined by a professional, some natural cures can help with mild cases.
You may consider doing light exercises for tennis elbow at home to reduce swelling and improve mobility. But always consult your doctor or physiotherapist before starting any exercise regimen.
Resting your arm and wrist is important to allow the tendons to heal. Using hot or cold therapy may also be beneficial for managing pain and inflammation.
During the early stages of an injury, it is better to opt for cold treatment as it can help reduce inflammation. Applying ice on the affected elbow for 15 minutes, a few times a day can help with inflammation and pain. However, after the initial inflammation has subsided, you may switch to heat therapy. Applying heat to the affected elbow and surrounding areas can help relax the muscles and increase blood circulation, allowing the injured tendon to heal.
Deep Heat Rub can work in a similar way to that of applying a hot compress. If you’re dealing with long-term pain, this can be a good solution. However, always consult your doctor before using any topical or oral medications or rubs.
Like Deep Heat, products like Tiger Balm can help warm the area and provide pain relief to some extent. This can be a good option for occasional use but it is important not to overuse it. If the pain persists, consider consulting an elbow specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment.
In tennis elbow, your lateral tendon, the outside part of your elbow, is affected. In contrast, the golfer’s elbow affects the inside part of the elbow comprising the epicondyle tendon.
If you have a golfer’s elbow, you will feel a pain on the inner side of your elbow that may travel down your arm. It’s common to feel a tingling or numbing sensation in your fingers with a golfer’s elbow. However, with tennis elbow, the pain will be on the outside of the elbow and can worsen when gripping and twisting things. Dr James Tan at Ray of Heath can help you manage these health conditions.
Golfer's elbow doctors at Ray of Health can help you manage and improve your pain.
On average, the recovery time for tennis elbow is around one month to a year. Occasionally, a few severe cases may take up to two years. The speed of recovery depends greatly on the kind of treatment as well as the adherence of the patient to the doctor's guidelines.
The sooner you seek treatment, the better your chances of managing your condition will be. In cases where it is left untreated, recovery is slower and more difficult. This is the same for cartilage and back injuries.
Tennis Elbow can affect anyone who plays tennis regularly or uses their forearm and wrist in repeated movements. It generally affects people during middle age, usually between 30 to 50 years of age. People who spend a lot of time typing, using a computer mouse, and drawing/painting are also at risk of developing the Tennis Elbow.
In some cases, tennis elbow can get better on its own provided you take adequate measures to avoid the movements of the arm and wrist that may aggravate the condition. However, if self-care measures and home remedies do not provide any relief, then you may want to consult an orthopaedic doctor for further treatment.
The information provided on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider or specialist doctor regarding any medical condition that you might be facing and act on the doctor’s recommendations.
If you are experiencing joint pain, sports injuries or musculoskeletal concerns, our Sports Orthopaedic Surgeon can provide a personalised consultation and assessment to better understand your condition and discuss suitable treatment options.
Dr James Tan, our tennis elbow specialist at Ray of Health, deals with various orthopaedic conditions of the body. He advises his patients to consult him in case of any pain or injury at the earliest so that the condition can be assessed and diagnosed properly.
If you are a Singaporean or a Permanent Resident of Singapore, some of our orthopaedic procedures can be claimed under MediSave. The claimable amount will vary based on the procedure's complexity.
For other situations, please consult our friendly clinic staff regarding the use of your Integrated Shield Plan insurance.
Check out this video below for effective stretching exercises that can help relieve tennis elbow pain.
Get in touch with Orthopaedic Specialist Dr James Tan today to discuss your concerns and explore the best treatment options for your bones, joints, muscles and spine.
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