Tennis Elbow Specialist

KC Physical Therapy

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist located in Murray Hill, New York, NY

Tennis elbow affects 1-3% of the general population, and up to 50% of tennis players at some point in their careers. Don't let the pain from tennis elbow stop you from doing the things you love. At KC Physical Therapy, located in Murray Hill, New York, New York, our expert physical therapist uses advanced therapies and Pilates-based techniques to ease pain from tennis elbow and enhance healing. Call to learn more, or book an appointment online today.

Tennis Elbow Q & A

What is tennis elbow?

Tennis elbow happens when you overuse or strain tendons in or near your elbow joint due to repetitive motions of the arm or wrist. This overuse can lead to tiny tears in your tendons near your forearm muscles. As the name implies, playing tennis regularly increases your risk for this injury.

Pain from tennis elbow usually involves tendons and forearm muscles within and near the elbow joint. Other symptoms may include:

  • Dull or sharp elbow pain
  • Pain that radiates from your wrist to your forearm or elbow
  • Weakness when trying to grip something

Tennis elbow makes it difficult to hold onto things, play certain sports, do your job at work, or even turn a doorknob.

 

What causes tennis elbow?

Overusing using forearm muscles can lead to the muscle strains associated with tennis elbow. Tennis elbow doesn’t only affect tennis players — it can also happen to plumbers, painters, carpenters, cooks, and even butchers who use constant repetitive motions.

Tennis elbow most commonly occurs in people between the ages of 30 and 50. Regardless of what causes your tennis elbow, resting the affected area is an important step in treating the condition.

 

How does physical therapy relieve tennis elbow?

At KC Physical Therapy, Dr. Pillora works with you to establish an appropriate treatment plan to ease the pain from tennis elbow. She may recommend:

Rest and ice

Taking time off from activities that caused tennis elbow, such as playing sports or on-the-job training, and icing the affected area helps reduce inflammation and speed up healing. In some cases, rest and icing the injury are all that’s needed for a full recovery.

Strength and flexibility exercises

Dr. Pillora helps you complete injury-specific strengthening and stretching exercises to ease tennis elbow pain, speed up recovery, and lower your risk for re-injury. The exercises she recommends improve your body’s normal movements to reduce tendon stress. She may use a TheraBand, which is a resistance band, during muscle and tendon strengthening exercises.

Kinesio Taping®, braces, or splints

To help prevent further damage and restrict repetitive movements that cause tennis elbow, Dr. Pillora may recommend using Kinesio Tape, a brace, or a splint during recovery. Kinesio Tape is a type of athletic tape that reduces inflammation, provides extra support at the injured area, restricts movements, and enhances healing.

If you’re tired of living with the pain from tennis elbow, call KC Physical Therapy to book your therapy session or schedule an appointment online today.