If you’ve dealt with tennis elbow, you know how frustrating it can be. The pain eases, you return to activity, and then—seemingly out of nowhere—it’s back. Whether the discomfort shows up while lifting, bending, straightening your arm, or gripping objects, recurring elbow pain is a sign that the true problem hasn’t been addressed.
While tennis elbow treatment often focuses on rest, ice, or temporary pain relief, those approaches don’t always resolve why the injury developed in the first place. A chiropractor looks deeper—at joint mechanics, muscle imbalance, and nerve irritation—to correct the root cause and help prevent the cycle from repeating.
What Is Tennis Elbow (And Why It’s Not Just a Tennis Injury)
Tennis elbow, medically known as lateral epicondylitis, is an overuse injury affecting the tendons on the outside of the elbow. It commonly causes pain on the outside of the elbow when straightening the arm, lifting objects, or gripping.
Despite the name, tennis elbow isn’t limited to athletes. It frequently affects:
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Office workers
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Tradespeople
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Gym-goers
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Pickleball players
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Anyone performing repetitive arm or wrist movements
Similar conditions include pickleball elbow and golfers elbow, which typically causes inner elbow pain or inside elbow pain. Regardless of the label, these injuries all involve faulty mechanics and repeated strain on the elbow joint.
Why Tennis Elbow Keeps Coming Back
1. The Elbow Is Treated in Isolation
Many approaches focus only on the painful spot. While this may reduce symptoms temporarily, elbow pain often stems from dysfunction in surrounding joints—especially the wrist, shoulder, and even the neck.
When these areas aren’t moving properly, extra stress is transferred to the elbow, increasing the likelihood of reinjury.
2. Poor Joint Mechanics
Restricted motion in the elbow joint or nearby joints changes how force is distributed through the arm. Over time, this leads to elbow joint pain, tendon overload, and chronic inflammation.
3. Nerve Irritation
Nerves traveling from the neck to the arm control muscle function and sensation. If these nerves are irritated or compressed, muscles may fatigue faster, contributing to elbow discomfort, weakness, and recurring injury.
4. Muscle Imbalances and Compensation
When certain muscles are weak or tight, others must work harder. This imbalance can lead to elbow pain when lifting, gripping, or performing repetitive tasks—even after rest.
Common Symptoms People Ignore
Tennis elbow doesn’t always start with sharp pain. Many people dismiss early warning signs, such as:
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Mild pain in the elbow after activity
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Stiffness when bending and straightening
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Aching or burning sensations
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Reduced grip strength
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Elbow pain when bending and straightening the arm
Ignoring these symptoms allows the injury to progress, making recovery longer and more difficult.
Tennis Elbow vs. Golfer’s Elbow vs. Pickleball Elbow
Tennis Elbow
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Pain on the outside of the elbow
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Worse when straightening the arm or lifting
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Common with repetitive gripping motions
Golfer’s Elbow
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Inner elbow pain
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Pain increases with wrist flexion or gripping
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Often associated with overuse or poor swing mechanics
Pickleball Elbow
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Combination of overuse and joint stress
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Affects both inside and outside elbow structures
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Increasingly common due to frequent play and improper recovery
While these conditions feel different, they often share the same underlying issues—joint dysfunction and poor movement patterns.
Why Traditional Tennis Elbow Treatment Falls Short
Standard tennis elbow treatment often includes:
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Rest
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Ice
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Anti-inflammatory medications
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Bracing
While these can reduce pain temporarily, they don’t correct joint restrictions, nerve involvement, or movement dysfunction. Once activity resumes, symptoms often return.
That’s why many people feel stuck in a loop of recurring elbow injury.
How an Elbow Pain Chiropractor Addresses the Root Cause
A chiropractor takes a whole-arm and whole-body approach to elbow pain.
Comprehensive Assessment
An elbow pain chiropractor evaluates:
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Elbow joint mobility
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Wrist and shoulder mechanics
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Cervical spine involvement
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Muscle balance and nerve function
This allows them to identify why stress is repeatedly landing on the elbow.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Gentle, targeted adjustments restore normal motion to restricted joints. Improved joint movement reduces abnormal strain on elbow tendons and supports proper healing.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Addressing tight or overworked muscles helps relieve tension contributing to elbow pain when lifting and gripping.
Nervous System Support
By improving spinal and joint alignment, chiropractic care helps optimize nerve signaling, which supports muscle coordination and recovery.
Can Chiropractic Help Chronic Elbow Pain?
Yes—especially when elbow pain keeps returning.
Chiropractic care doesn’t just aim to reduce symptoms. It focuses on correcting faulty mechanics that cause elbow joint pain, stiffness, and weakness. This approach is particularly effective for:
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Long-standing tennis elbow
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Recurrent elbow injuries
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Pain that hasn’t responded to rest or exercise alone
When to Seek Help for Elbow Pain
You should consider professional care if:
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Elbow pain lasts longer than a few weeks
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Pain interferes with work or exercise
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You experience pain on the outside of the elbow when straightening the arm
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Symptoms return every time you resume activity
Early intervention leads to faster recovery and helps prevent chronic issues.
Final Thoughts: Stop Treating the Symptoms—Fix the Cause
If tennis elbow keeps coming back, it’s not bad luck—it’s unresolved dysfunction. True recovery requires more than temporary relief. By addressing joint mechanics, muscle balance, and nerve involvement, chiropractic care from One Spine Chiropractic & Sports Rehab offers a smarter, long-term solution for elbow pain.
Instead of repeatedly managing flare-ups, fixing the root cause can help restore strength, reduce discomfort, and get you back to the activities you enjoy—without fear of reinjury.
Learn more about our clinic and approach here.
